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IASC approves Virgin Australia capacity changes to US, Italy, New Zealand, Fiji, Vanuatu and Samoa

13 August, 2017

Australia's International Air Services Commission (IASC) issued (11-Aug-2017) a series of determinations covering capacity allocations for Italy, New Zealand, the US, Fiji, Vanuatu and Samoa:

  • [2017] IASC 119 allocating Virgin Australia 300 third country codeshare seats per week to Italy covering codeshare services with Singapore Airlines and Etihad Airways;
  • [2017] IASC 113 allocating to Virgin Australia unlimited passenger and freight capacity in each direction to New Zealand. The determination also permits the use of capacity by Virgin Australia for the provision of codeshare services with Etihad Airways, Delta Air Lines, Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines, Alitalia, airberlin, Air Canada and Hong Kong Airlines;
  • [2017] IASC 114 allocating to Virgin Australia unlimited passenger and freight capacity in each direction to the US with permission to use the capacity for codeshare services with Delta Air Lines;
  • [2017] IASC 115 allocating to Virgin Australia 1260 seats per week in each direction to Fiji;
  • [2017] IASC 116 allocating to Virgin Australia 180 seats per week in each direction to Fiji;
  • [2017] IASC 117 allocating to Virgin Australia 720 seats of capacity per week in each direction to Vanuatu, and permitting the use of the capacity for codeshare with Singapore Airlines;
  • [2017] IASC 121 allocating to Virgin Australia 180 seats of capacity per week in each direction to Vanuatu, and permitting the use of the capacity for codeshare with Singapore Airlines;
  • [2017] IASC 120 allocating to Virgin Australia 880 seats of capacity per week to Samoa. [more - original PR]

Moree Airport close to completing USD1.9m airfield infrastructure upgrade

11 August, 2017

Australian Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall reported the AUD2.5 million (USD1.9 million) airfield infrastructure upgrade at Moree Airport is "almost complete" (Moree Champion, 07-Aug-2017). The project is jointly funded by federal government, New South Wales state government and local council. Works include improved runway lighting, installation of Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) system, apron parking lights and upgrading the backup generator.

Taxi drivers protest against ridesharing services at Adelaide Airport

11 August, 2017

Adelaide Airport, via its official Twitter account, reposted (11-Aug-2017) reports that planned protest by taxi drivers from 07:00 may cause delays for passengers arriving or departing the airport. The strike commenced around 20:00 on 10-Aug-2017, with around 100 taxi drivers blocking Uber vehicles from entering the airport. Uber temporarily suspended all pick ups from Adelaide Airport due to safety concerns for its drivers. Uber spokesman Mike Scott stated: "We'll continue liaising with airport security and the AFP as they handle the situation and will resume public pick-ups as soon as possible".

Qantas to open direct online booking presence on Fliggy

10 August, 2017

Qantas announced (11-Aug-2017) a new agreement with Alibaba Group's online travel service platform, Fliggy, which will allow customers to book Qantas flights directly on the site. Qantas International CEO Gareth Evans and Fliggy VP Jerry Hu signed an MoU to establish a strategic relationship which also has scope for joint marketing campaigns to Alibaba Group's 507 million mobile active users. Mr Evans said a partnership with Fliggy makes it easier for a large number of potential customers to purchase Qantas flights. Together with its partners China Eastern and China Southern, Qantas operates more than 130 weekly return services between Australia and China. [more - original PR]

QantasLink to refurbish two more 717 aircraft

10 August, 2017

QantasLink announced (09-Aug-2017) plans to reconfigure two more single class Boeing 717 jets, with a business cabin, upgraded interior and inflight entertainment for all seats. This brings the total number of reconfigured aircraft for the carrier up to 12 out of 20 in the fleet of 717 aircraft. From late 2017, one of these reconfigured 717s will be redeployed from Perth to operate on the Brisbane-Adelaide and Brisbane-Cairns routes. [more - original PR]

Australian Government: Julieanne Alroe appointed new chair of Infrastructure Australia

10 August, 2017

Australian Government appointed (04-Aug-2017) Julieanne Alroe as the new chair of the independent Infrastructure Australia Board. Infrastructure Australia CEO Philip Davies welcomed the appointment of Ms Alroe, who he believes brings extensive experience from the aviation sector to her new role as chair. Ms Alroe replaces Mark Birrell and will begin in the role in Sep-2017. [more - original PR]

Adelaide Airport welcomes operation of ridesharing services from 10-Aug-2017

10 August, 2017

Adelaide Airport announced (10-Aug-2017) ridesharing services such as Uber are allowed to pick up customers at the airport from 10-Aug-2017. Ridesharing drivers will incur a AUD2.00 (USD1.57) pick up fee, which is the same rate as current taxi pick up fee. Rates for both services are expected to increase to AUD3.00 (USD2.36) from 01-Oct-2017. The airport developed a dedicated ridesharing pick up facility and plans to construct a new taxi drop off area adjacent to the terminal to free up capacity at the existing drop-off zone under the car park. Additional improvements will be made to the existing taxi pick-up rank to provide better weather protection for customers. [more - original PR]

ACCC grants authorisation to Virgin Australia's mainland China and Hong Kong airline alliance

10 August, 2017

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) granted (10-Aug-2017) authorisation to coordinate airline services for five years to Virgin Australia Airlines, the HNA Aviation Group, Hong Kong Airlines and Hong Kong Express Airways. The Alliance Framework Agreement may see additional airline services operate between Australia and mainland China, and Australia and Hong Kong. ACCC commissioner Roger Featherston said: "The ACCC considers the alliance will likely realise significant public benefits, primarily through supporting the introduction of new services between Australia and mainland China and Hong Kong including by Virgin... The ACCC considers that the alliance is unlikely to result in any significant public detriment as there was unlikely to have been any material overlap between direct flights operated by Virgin and any of the other airlines in the short to medium term without the alliance in place". Since the ACCC granted interim authorisation in March, Virgin has commenced services between Australia and Hong Kong. Virgin also expects to launch services between Australia and mainland China. The airlines will coordinate their international passenger transport services such as codesharing, frequent flyer programme participation, lounge access, route planning and scheduling. [more - original PR]

Alliance Aviation records substantial increase in profits for FY2017

10 August, 2017

Alliance Aviation stated (10-Aug-2017) the carrier, during FY2017, "continued its focus on revenue diversification and leveraging value from the Fokker Fleet project. Total Flying hours increased from expanded wet lease flying and an improvement in contract flying in H2FY2017". Alliance Aviation MD Scott McMillan stated the current results were pleasing and positions the business well for the future. CEO Leo Schofield added: "The profitability of the business has provided good cash flow from operations. These funds have been used to continue to invest in the expansion of the business. During this time, the carrier has also continued with the debt reduction strategy". [more - original PR]

Australia Federal Government to review airport security measures

10 August, 2017

Australia Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester confirmed (08-Aug-2017) the federal government will review airport security measures including regional airports, to ensure "current settings remain appropriate…to the current threat or the risk environment". Mr Chester stated the review will focus on the 170 airports across Australia that currently serve scheduled passenger or chartered services. [more - original PR] [more - original PR - II]

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