The World of Aviation

Etihad Airways has doubled its stake in alliance partner Virgin Australia to 10 per cent, buying 221 million shares on the open market in the six weeks since it received clearance from the federal regulator. “Our small equity stake reflects the strong working relationship of both airlines and again demonstrates our enduring commitment to the

The US Federal Aviation Administration has launched a study looking at whether airlines can safely allow more widespread use of personal electronic devices during flights. Under current FAA rules, airlines must determine that electronic devices do not cause dangerous radio frequency interference in order to approve them for us during flight. Most airlines ban the

Chinese aircraft leasing company ICBC has signed an order for 50 Airbus A320s during a visit to China by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The deal is the first Airbus order from a Chinese operator since a dispute erupted earlier this year between China and the European Union over the EU’s carbon pricing scheme. China had

Qantas is expected to finalise a codesharing alliance with Emirates as early as next week, The Australian has reported. Details of the deal have yet to be confirmed but it will likely include Qantas services to Dubai and possibly the end of Qantas’ money-losing Frankfurt route, the newspaper said. The codesharing deal is part of an

An ATSB investigation into the ditching of a Pel-Air aeromedical flight into the ocean off Norfolk Island in 2009 has cited a series of errors by the flight’s crew. Westwind 1124A VH-NGA was forced to ditch late at night on November 18, 2009 as it ran out of fuel after severe weather prevented the crew

Boeing has opened a third assembly line for its 787 Dreamliner as it struggles to ramp up production of the badly delayed aircraft. Boeing has described the new assembly line as a temporary measure as it seeks to increase 787 production from 3.5 aircraft per month to 10 per month by the end of next