The World of Aviation

Etihad Airways has ordered 10 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and two 777 Freighters in a deal valued at $2.8 billion, the airline and Boeing announced. With the order, Etihad becomes the largest airline customer of the 787-9, the larger version of Boeing’s new twin engine, carbon composite airliner. The Abu Dhabi based carrier now has a

The Australian Defence Force will buy two extra CH-47D Chinook transport helicopters, bringing its fleet to seven and replacing a Chinook downed earlier this year in Afghanistan. The Chinooks are being purchased from the US and are expected to arrive in Townsville next month, where they will undergo servicing and modification to the current Australian

The Mexican Air Force has taken delivery of an Airbus C295 tactical airlifter, bringing to 10 its fleet of C295s, five of which were delivered last year. The medium sized airlifter will primarily be used for troop transport but can also be configured for medical evacuation or can carry up to nine tonnes of palletized cargo. To

Fiji based Air Pacific has reported substantially smaller losses than last year though its operations remain in the red. The airline, which is 46 per cent owned by Qantas, today reported operating losses of F$3.6 million ($1.92 million) for the financial ending in March, down from losses of F$91.8 million for the previous year. Air

The US has asked the World Trade Organization for permission to impose trade sanctions over what it calls an inadequate European Union plan to curtail subsidies to Airbus. The threat of sanctions, which could amount to between $7 billion and $10 billion a year, opens a new chapter in a long running dispute over EU

Not to be outdone, Melbourne Airport has unveiled plans to have its new T4 domestic terminal opened by 2014 as part of a planned $300 million expansion. The news comes days after Sydney Airport flagged a major overhaul of its terminals. Melbourne’s new Terminal Four will replace a rudimentary terminal currently used by Tiger Airways.