The World of Aviation

Inbound tourism to south-east Queensland is to receive a further boost from November 24 when Malaysian low-cost airline AirAsia X increases its schedule to daily from the current five a week. The frequency increase will add another 60,000 seats a year between Kuala Lumpur and the Gold Coast. Air Asia X’s entry to the Gold

Virgin Australia’s Velocity Frequent Flyer program has formally launched Australia’s first prepaid travel money card to offer frequent flyer points rewards. In partnership with Visa, the Global Wallet, which is located on one side of the new-look Velocity membership card, enables members to access nine foreign currencies and load money and store it in Australian dollars

Jetstar Japan has become the largest low-cost carrier in the country and the largest operating from Tokyo Narita Airport. The milestone was announced as the airline celebrates its first full year of operations. In the last 12 months the airline has carried more than 1.6 million passengers on a fleet that has grown from two

Buoyed by its announcement success at the recent Paris airshow, Airbus now has more than 5,000 aircraft yet to be delivered, its order backlog the first time an aircraft manufacturer has attained a backlog of such magnitude. Airbus’s 241 orders booked during June increased its overall backlog to 5,109 aircraft, representing more than seven years

Boeing delivered 169 commercial aircraft during the second quarter of 2013, bringing its year-to-date deliveries to 306. Some 116 737s were delivered during the period, while 23 777 models were accepted by customers. The resumption of the 787 program saw 16 of the type delivered, accounting for all but one of 787 deliveries so far

Garuda has accepted its first 777-300ER, with the aircraft to be operated on the airline’s new through-services between Sydney and London from November 2. The new 777-300ERs are configured with eight first class suites, 38 business class and 268 economy seats. The 777 is a significant step forward in Garuda’s Quantum Leap fleet modernisation program