Virgin Australia and Delta Air Lines have gained final regulatory clearance for their alliance on routes between Australia and the US. The final approval from the ACCC on Friday for Virgin’s other alliance with Delta for a further five years falls short of the 10 years that the airlines were seeking. The regulator said it had given approval for a shorter period because of the “ongoing evolution of services on the trans-Pacific and the dynamic nature of the aviation industry”. Virgin flies … [Read more...] about Virgin Australia, Delta get green light
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Qantas posts best profit since before the GFC
Qantas today announced its strongest profit since before the Global Financial Crisis and an order for eight B787 aircraft, to be delivered from calendar year 2017 to gradually replace five older B747s to start a “new era” for Qantas International. For the 12 months to 30 June 2015, Qantas reported an Underlying Profit Before Tax of $975 million and a Statutory Profit Before Tax of $789 million. The underlying result is a turnaround of $1.6 billion compared with financial year 2014, including … [Read more...] about Qantas posts best profit since before the GFC
China’s Uni-Top takes delivery of first A300-600F P2F
China’s Uni-Top Airlines has taken delivery of its first A300-600 freighter, following a passenger to freighter conversion with EADS Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EADS EFW) in Dresden, Germany. The first freighter, with a payload capacity of 48 tonnes, will be deployed on flights from Shanghai Pudong to Seoul Incheon, Shenzhen, Wuhan, and Osaka Kansai. The carrier said in a statement it expects conversion of all seven aircraft – which it acquired from China Eastern Airlines in 2013 – by April of 2016. … [Read more...] about China’s Uni-Top takes delivery of first A300-600F P2F
China Southern kicks off Nairobi service
China Southern Airlines on Wednesday made its maiden flight to Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, as it kicked off direct three-times weekly flights from Guangzhou-Nairobi using A330-200 aircraft. China is one of the key trading partners of Kenya, heavily investing in the East African nation’s infrastructure and energy sectors. “Chinese businesses such as Bank of China, Huawei, and Qingjian International are already operating successfully in Kenya and East African markets and we … [Read more...] about China Southern kicks off Nairobi service
Qingdao Airlines to rebrand as Xinlong Air
Qingdao Airlines is set for a rebranding to Xinlong Air following plans to massively restructure its shareholding at the end of August. State-backed Qingdao Transport Development Group Co. announced plans to dispose of its 25 per cent stake for CNY251 million (US$40.4 million). Meanwhile, the airlines’s other shareholder Shandong Airlines has also announced plans to sell off its 20 per cent stake to New Nanshan International Holdings Ltd., a subsidiary of Xinlong’s largest shareholder, … [Read more...] about Qingdao Airlines to rebrand as Xinlong Air
Sichuan Airlines to begin Dubai service in Sept
Sichuan Airlines has announced it will expand its international network next month, with the launch of its first ever flights to the Middle East. From 4 September the airline will operate twice weekly flights from Chengdu, the capital of southwest China’s Sichuan province, to Dubai. The twice weekly flights utilising A330 aircraft will depart Chengdu’s Shuangliu International Airport twice weekly and will stop in Yinchuan, the capital of northwest China’s Ningxia region. Earlier on 5 August … [Read more...] about Sichuan Airlines to begin Dubai service in Sept
