The World of Aviation

Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia have announced plans to operate twice weekly direct flights between Perth and Christchurch between December 2013 and late April 2014. The flights, which will be operated by Air New Zealand 767-300ERs and codeshared by Virgin Australia, will depart Christchurch  at 1540 and Perth at 1910 on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Velocity Frequent Flyer, in partnership with Visa, is launching the ‘Global Wallet’, a prepaid travel money card. Located on one side of the new-look Velocity Frequent Flyer membership card, the Global Wallet will enable members to load money onto their card and store it in multiple foreign currencies as well as Australian 
dollars; make purchases

QBE Insurance has launched the inaugural QBE Aerial Application Scholarship. Offered in partnership with the Aerial Agricultural Association of Australia (AAAA), the $5,000 scholarship is open to aviation professionals interested in furthering their career development, particularly in the area of safety management. The scholarship will be awarded to an individual currently operating in the aerial application

Daimler has sold its remaining stake in EADS for nearly US$3 billion. The sale sees Daimler exit the aerospace industry nearly 13 years after it helped to found the Airbus parent company. Cash received from the sale will contribute positively to Daimler’s cash flow, the company’s finance director, Bodo Uebber said in a statement. Daimler’s

Though it’s no surprise given Emirates’ 30-strong fleet of A380s, Dubai Airport can now formally claim the title as the world’s leading A380 hub. Published schedule data for 2012 shows Dubai had 7,259 A380 scheduled flights to 28 destinations, with all but 88 of those flights operated by home-carrier Emirates. Taking second spot during 2012

QantasLink will transfer its operations to Terminal 3 – the main Qantas domestic terminal – in Sydney during the second half of 2013. The change will greatly improve flight connections and amenity for passengers. A new dedicated lounge for QantasLInk passengers is being constructed at gate 1 in Terminal 3, with work having already commenced.