The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has grounded Western Australia-based Alligator Airways, saying the charter carrier poses a “serious and imminent risk to air safety.” The grounding, which took effect yesterday, covers the next five days, during which CASA will apply to the Federal Court for an extension as it continues to investigate the airline. Alligator
Qantas will increase capacity on its domestic network but will defer delivery of two A380 superjumbo jets as part of $400 million in capital expenditure cuts to its struggling international business, the airline announced today. The cuts come on top of a $500 million capex reduction announced in February and will see the two A380s
Australia will push back by two years its decision on whether to buy as many as 70 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, Defence Minister Stephen Smith announced this morning. Smith said the decision, which follows a similar move by the US, would save Australia $1.6 billion over the next four years. Delaying the purchases, however, will
Boeing has unveiled an unusual, fork-shaped wingtip device for its upcoming 737 MAX. According to the US planemaker, the Advanced Technology Winglet will contribute an additional 1.5 per cent to the 737 MAX’s fuel savings over longer ranges against the current generation 737. That comes on top of a claimed 10-12 per cent reduction in
Airservices Australia is revising its takeoff procedures after a pair of passenger jets came dangerously close to each other as they climbed away from Melbourne Airport in 2010. According to an ATSB investigation released today, the December 5 2010 incident occurred when a Virgin Australia 737 departed Melbourne followed by a Qantas 767 travelling at
Lufthansa’s first 747-8 Intercontinental took off from Washington state on May 1 on its way to Frankfurt, a milestone which Boeing hopes will spark demand for the newest generation of its iconic jumbo jet. Lufthansa said 747-8 commercial services would begin June 1 with flights between its Frankfurt base and Washington, DC. Flights to Los
