The World of Aviation

AirAsia deputy CEO Kamarudin Meranun told Emirates Business that the company has been in negotiations with the government and private investors in Abu Dhabi on a possible investment in the Malaysian based low cost carrier. “We are already in negotiations with some investors, including from the government, encouraging them to invest in AirAsia,” said Meranun.

Austrian low cost carrier Niki Luftfahrt has exercised options it has on two Embraer E-190s, with delivery of the aircraft to take place during the first half of 2011. Niki operates E-190s in a 112-seat configuration alongside a fleet of Airbus A320 Family aircraft in Europe.

British Airways has reported that it has seen a 14 per cent increase in online travel enquiries from Africa, Asia and the Middle East due to the lower value of the British Pound. Sam Heine, British Airways regional commercial manager for Australia, said, “Over the summer, we saw an average of 30,000 visits a week

The RAAF took ‘initial delivery’ of two Boeing Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft at a ceremony at RAAF Williamtown on November 26. The ceremony was attended by Chief of Air Force AIRMSHL Mark Binskin; the DMO’s AEW&C program manager, AVM Chris Deeble; and Boeing’s AEW&C program vice president Maureen Doherty, as well as members of the RAAF’s

Gulfstream Aerospace’s new flagship G650 widebody ultra long range business jet made its first flight from Savannah, Georgia, on November 25. Flown by experimental test pilot Jake Howard and senior experimental test pilot Tom Horne, the G650 took off from Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport at 1341 local time with flight engineer Bill Osborne on board.

Auckland International Airport saw increases in both domestic and international passengers during October 2009. Domestic passenger numbers increased by 3.3 per cent during the month, despite the number of domestic aircraft movements falling by 8.7 per cent, as increased competition between Jetstar, Air New Zealand and Pacific Blue stimulated traffic. International passenger traffic increased by