The Victorian Court of Appeal has increased the sentence of Fariq Aqbal Omar, a former Malaysia Airlines flight attendant that was jailed for importation of heroin into Australia. The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) lodged an appeal after Mr Omar was sentenced to 5 years and 6 months earlier this year. The Court of…
Qantas has released it’s full year financial results. While the airline announced record revenue, it’s profit has dropped 17%, mostly due to increased fuel prices ($600 million increase), the lower Australian dollar ($150 million), and employee leave provisions ($92 million). Loyalty has become the airline’s second biggest earner after domestic travel. Qantas also announced a…
British Airways pilots are planning to go on strike for three days in September, the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) said. BALPA said the airline “did not accept” any options the union put to it during talks this week, adding: “it is clear following discussions with members over the last few days that BA’s most…
President Evo Morales announced on Wednesday that Bolivia has ordered the 747 Supertanker to assist firefighters battling a massive outbreak of wildfires in the Amazon basin. The huge air tanker, identified as Tanker 944, that can carry up to 19,200 gallons (72,680 liters) of water or fire retardant departed from Sacramento McClellan Airport at…
Protestors are planning to “stress test” Hong Kong International Airport this weekend. ABC News Australia reports that Hong Kong’s High Court was extending an order that requires demonstrations to have permission from authorities. In response protest organisers have told protesters to “Go to the airport by different means, including MTR, Airport Bus, Taxi, Bike and…
Amid drama following Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s trips via private jet, William and Kate flew commercial with their children from Norwich, England, to Aberdeen, Scotland, on Thursday. “We were delighted to welcome the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their family on board one of our flights again, this time when they flew from Norwich to Aberdeen with…
EasyJet suspends a pilot from flying after finding out about suicidal messages he sent to his friends. Pals passed the aviator’s messages to his bosses after he told them ‘I’m suicidal’, ‘my life is sh**’ and ‘I’m probably going to kill myself’ in a WhatsApp group. “I thought I would meet people, make friends with…
Qantas has bowed to community and government pressure to reduce the airfares for regional communities. The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) reports that a Senate enquiry heard claims of a $4800 ($US3247, €5321, £2208) return fare for a family of 3 to fly between the Queensland towns of Cloncurry and Townsville. The enquiry, however, found no…
Qantas has announced three ultra long-haul research flights to gather new data about inflight passenger and crew health and wellbeing. The flights form part of planning for Project Sunrise – Qantas’ goal to operate regular, non-stop commercial flights from the east coast of Australia (Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne) to London and New York. The three…
Boeing said on Tuesday it plans to add extra staff and hire “a few hundred” temporary employees at an airport in Washington state where it is storing many grounded 737 MAX jetliners, a key step in its best-case plan for resuming deliveries to airline customers in October. The hiring plans are the first publicly…
The High Court in Dublin has blocked a proposed strike by Ireland-based Ryanair pilots on Thursday and Friday. Ryanair’s lawyers in Ireland told the court that the pilots union, which represents around 180 Ryanair pilots, had not let talks reach a conclusion before announcing the strike. In a tweet, Ryanair welcomed the judgement from the…
A “nightmare” JFK flight to Miami was delayed for so long that cops had to be summoned after fights broke out between frustrated — and exhausted — passengers. Delta Flight 2385 sat on the tarmac for nearly eight hours at the Queens airport on Thursday, with things getting out of control when sparring broke out,…
