The World of Aviation

Virgin Australia’s total revenue load factor slipped by 3.6 percentage points to 77 per cent in April as domestic and international services both saw lower loads. Across its total network, Virgin recorded a 6.7 per cent increase in passenger numbers, while capacity increased by 8.5 per cent. Domestically, the carrier saw an increase in capacity

The Victorian government has flagged plans to create an “aviation precinct” in the state as it seeks to attract businesses that could make up for lost Qantas jobs. Aviation Minister Gordon Rich-Phillips last night released a discussion paper on the plans and called for feedback from the aviation industry and training providers. He said the

Long planned Boeing 787 services between Houston and Auckland have apparently fallen victim to airline arm wrestling over Houston’s airports. The 787 services, which was to have been operated by United Airlines (after its merger with Continental Airlines), were originally scheduled to commence in 2011 but had already been pushed back due to long delays

Airbus CEO Tom Enders has formally taken over as chief of parent company EADS during the aerospace giant’s annual shareholders meeting. Enders, a 53 year old German who has headed Airbus since 2007, succeeds Frenchman Louis Gallois. Airbus COO Fabrice Bregier has been appointed to replace Enders as Airbus chief, while Günter Butschek has been

Boeing has delivered its 20th 747-8 jumbo jet, a cargo model for Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings. Atlas will operate the aircraft on behalf of Swiss freight carrier Panalpina. Dubbed the Spirit of Panalpina and the first aircraft to be painted in Panalpina livery, the 747-8 Freighter was due to depart Seattle today for Hong Kong,

Qantas staff will be getting some new threads after the airline chose Australian designer Martin Grant to refashion its uniforms. The new uniforms are expected to be ready by 2014 and will replace the existing design by Peter Morrissey, which has been in use since 2003. The Qantas uniform has been redesigned nine times since