The World of Aviation

Passengers who need exhaustive pampering now have their choice of Australian airlines, with Virgin opening its first ultra-exclusive, invitation-only lounge at Sydney Airport, the Australian Business Traveller website has reported. Dubbed ‘The Club,’ the secretive lounge will vie against Qantas’s hush-hush Chairman’s Club for the patronage of politicos, CEOs and A-list celebrities. Virgin has not

The extent of damage inside a Qantas 747 engine that failed over Bangkok last year is making it difficult for investigators to determine what went wrong, the ATSB has said in an update to its inquiry on the incident. Qantas flight QF2, operated by VH-OJS, was eight minutes into its climb away from Bangkok on

Mining billionaire Clive Palmer has unveiled plans to develop an international airport on the Sunshine Coast to feed visitors into a “World Tourist Mecca” including a new 1000-room hotel and casino at the site of his Coolum resort. Palmer purchased the golf resort last year and ousted Hyatt Hotels as manager of the facility, leading

China Airlines has confirmed plans to launch four times weekly service from Auckland to Taipei via Sydney. The service, due to begin on October 28, complements existing three times weekly flights from Auckland to Taipei via Brisbane, effectively giving Auckland a daily air link with Taiwan. “This announcement marks a significant step towards stronger trade

A Qantas pilot has been stood down from duties after testing positive for alcohol. The pilot was removed from a Boeing 767 flight from Sydney to Brisbane moments before takeoff last Monday over concerns that she had been drinking. The pilot, who has not been identified, later tested positive for alcohol, CASA said. “Qantas informed

Airbus executive vice president of engineering Charles Champion will deliver the 54th Sir Charles Kingsford Smith Lecture in Sydney as part of the annual black tie dinner of the NSW branch of the Royal Aeronautical Society. The lecture, held on September 20, will focus on changes on the horizon for global aviation. Champion will highlight