News for South Pacific

Aviation Australia announced (24-May-2017) a cooperative partnership agreement with the Jakarta Aviation Training Centre (JATC) for the delivery of aircraft maintenance engineering training to Indonesian students. Training will be delivered at JATC’s campus, located next to the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta, as well as Aviation Australia’s campus located next to the Brisbane International Airport. Aviation Australia CEO Bill Horrocks stated Indonesia is a very important player in the global aviation industry and has experienced massive growth over the past decade. [more - original PR]

Qantas and Australia Post introduced (24-May-2017) a Boeing 737-400F aircraft in StarTrack livery. The aircraft has capacity for 16.5 tonnes of cargo and is the largest in the dedicated domestic network of six aircraft operating for Australia Post and StarTrack customers. The delivery forms part of a five year contract worth more than AUD500 million (USD375 million) for the transport of Australia Post and StarTrack products and services, which includes priority access to capacity in Qantas Group's passenger fleet. Australia Post Group COO and StarTrack CEO Bob Black said "This new aircraft is the largest type of freighter aircraft operating scheduled services in Australia and gives us greater capacity and flexibility". [more - original PR]

Airservices Australia commenced (24-May-2017) industry consultation on the viability of designing and installing a long range air traffic flow management (LR-ATFM) System for Australia's airspace. LR-ATFM is expected to deliver reduced aircraft fuel burn, increased air traffic predictability and reduced controller workload. Airservices has been applying a limited form of LR-ATFM at Sydney and Perth, largely based on procedures and manual interaction. Airservices highlighted there are "currently no demonstrated technology based LR-ATFM systems operating in the world". Airservices ATM service manager Paddy Goodall said the concept would be designed to integrate international flights into the current ATM network management process, to bring a more orderly flow of arrivals at the four major airports. Airservices plans to launch a Market Sounding Information Request through AusTender by early Jun-2017. [more - original PR]

Australia's Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester announced (24-May-2017) a bilateral agreement on air services between Australia and Peru. The agreement will facilitate opportunities for new services between the countries, supporting tourism, encouraging investment and improving cultural and people-to-people links. Mr Chester stated: "Both Australian and Peruvian airlines will be able to provide air services between countries either using their own aircraft or via codeshare arrangements with other airlines. Australia and Peru have enjoyed a strong tourism, trade and investment relationship which has continued to grow. In 2015, there were 3500 short-term arrivals to Australia from Peru, an increase of 12.7% year on year, while nearly 40,000 Australians visited Peru". [more - original PR] 

Pacific Air Express (PAE) issued (24-May-2017) a request to Australia's International Air Services Commission (IASC) seeking to renew Determination [2013] IASC 126, which currently allocates one service per week of freight capacity on the Nauru route. In light of the recent changes to the air services arrangements between Australia and Nauru, which include increasing the freight capacity to ‘unlimited frequencies’, PAE is seeking for an allocation of unlimited freight capacity valid for 10 years from 19-May-2018. IASC invited submissions regarding the applications, with a closing date of 06-Jun-2017. [more - original PR]

Air Tahiti Nui, via its official website, announced (24-May-2017) schedule changes and cancellations due to a strike by firefighters at Tahiti Faa'a Airport. While most disputes have been settled and outer island airports have resumed full service, Tahiti Faa'a Airport continues to be affected by the strike (Radio NZ, 23-May-2017). French High Commissioner Rene Bidal warned that firefighters ordered to maintain a basic service will risk jail if they refuse to comply.

Australian Transport Safety Bureau, via its official Twitter account, announced (23-May-2017) it is investigating an inflight engine shutdown involving a Qantas A380, VH-OQG, near Los Angeles on 20-May-2017. According to the ATSB the No 4 engine thrust reduced to about 45% before being shut down by the flight crew and the aircraft returned to Los Angeles Airport. As part of the investigation, the ATSB will interview the crew, obtain an engineering report and gather additional information, with a final report being released within several months.

Nelson Airport received a request to enhance public transport options from the airport (Stuff, 24-May-2017). The airport owner, Nelson City Council, will consider plans to trial an extended bus service between popular tourist destinations Tahuna Beach Holiday Park and Nelson i-SITE during summer 2017/18. 

Vanuatu National Statistics Office reported (23-May-2017) international visitor arrivals to Vanuatu reached 5610 in Feb-2017. Details include:

• Visitor arrivals: 5610;
  • Australia: 2328;
  • New Caledonia: 1062;
  • New Zealand: 343;
  • China: 302;
  • Japan: 59. [more - original PR]

Solomon Airlines launched (23-May-2017) a new booking system within its website to assist customers with searches, shopping and booking. The technology is based on Amadeus’ e-Retail DX platform, one of the most widely used online booking engine now available on the international aviation scene. Solomon Airlines manager commercial Colin Sigimanu stated the technology is intended to improve both usability and experience for customers accessing the website for flight and product shopping. The website also highlights the expanded routes and international destinations now serviced by Solomon Airlines and its codeshare partners including Qantas Airways, Air Niugini and Air Vanuatu. [more - original PR]