The killer tsunami in Samoa this morning points to the missing link in Australia’s recently completed warning system. We know how to detect tsunamis — we just can’t warn people in time yet.
Articles by Ben Sandilands 
Things looking so bad for Qantas they might be good
Today’s traffic results are a mixed blessing for Qantas. Terrible news regarding international passengers, but overall, the group’s passenger numbers rose 6% in August compared to August 2008, clearly lifted by growth by Jetstar.
Dust storm 2: a health hazard beyond comparison
Particulate pollution has soared to levels never seen in Australia in recent hours as the red dust storm intensifies over much of the top three quarters of NSW.
Dust storm 1: chaos, mud, lightning. Oh my!
It no longer looks as blood red as at dawn. No Dorothy, no Tin Man, no wicked Witch, so far. But the dust storms sweeping NSW have brought red snow!
Qantas’ annual fairytale lands
The Qantas 2009 annual report out this morning is served up with side dishes of amnesia and hope. And a big plan for restoring their reputation. Will it work?
The shape of jets to come, maybe
Airbus have released some teasers overnight about the future of aviation. Are these the shapes of jets to come or just a whimsy on the part of Airbus?
Virgin minds its Vs and Qs over its future
Virgin Blue revealed yesterday that the day is coming when all of its airlines — Blue, Pacific Blue and V Australia — will be united under one brand. But why let this “secret” out? Perhaps Virgin are hoping to send Qantas flying into a panic.
Three out of 10 air traffic controllers equals chaos
There appear to be more media managers and image massagers than Sydney controllers on the AirServices Australia payroll, with only three air traffic controllers available at Sydney Airport yesterday.
Former senior RAAF officers slam Australia’s defence plan
Three retired senior RAAF officers have published a review of the culture of learned failure in the administration of defence in Australia and the US, claiming Australia’s defence force will become largely irrelevant within decades.
CASA, Qantas and the documents they don’t want you to see
CASA is confident about Qantas safety, but if that’s the case, show us the documents.
Crikey Clarifier: How to survive on a freezing mountaintop
How did Victoria’s Water and Tourism Minister Tim Holding survive the freezing alpine conditions after he went missing? Ben Sandilands, who has also “done” Mt Feathertop, explains.
Virgin gets its Twitter on
Virgin Blue announced a thousand $9 fares on its Twitter feed this morning. Is this the way of the future for cost-cutting airlines? asks Ben Sandilands.
Crikey Clarifier: Where have all the sun spots gone?
As an unusually spotless sun continues to puzzle scientists, get ready for yet another outbreak of pseudo-scientific man-made global warming denialism.
Virgin posts $160m loss
Virgin Blue this morning confirmed a loss of $160 million for the year to June 30 while the guessing game about its recent strong share price performance continues.
The short but lucrative life of a Qantas frequent flyer point
The official Qantas guide to the life of a frequent flyer point was a bonus in the airline’s results filing. It is the gold mine Qantas needs during its current crisis.
Qantas down, Jetstar up. No happy landings
Qantas has dropped its profits even more sharply than most analysts had predicted, with announcements today that profits were down from A$1.4 billion to A$181 million.
Emirates for court in ACCC robber airlines push
The great global air freight price fixing scandal caught up with another airline in Australia today when the ACCC said it was taking Emirates to court over alleged cartel like behaviour.
Sydney loses its stranglehold on international flights
Virgin Blue played the Melbourne-versus-Sydney card hard today, with the announcement that flights by its V Australia subsidiary will go directly from Johannesburg to Melbourne.
Expect hurdles along the Kokoda Track crash investigation
The Australian role in the official inquiry into the Airlines PNG crash that killed nine Australians on Tuesday as they were about to start the Kokoda Track walk is going to be incredibly difficult.
Kokoda crash: sitting out the clouds in PNG
Airlines PNG, which crashed a Twin Otter carrying 13 people including nine Australians near Isurava on the Kokoda track yesterday, already had a shocking safety record, writes Ben Sandilands.
Plan to cut cabin crew ratios sneaks under the radar
A CASA working party is considering a submission to reduce the number of cabin crew on Australian airline services as a cost cutting method. However, this is a safety issue.
Airlines nosedive overseas while Oz planes defy gravity
Australian airlines continue to defy gravity, despite the sharp dives into quarterly losses posted overnight by Singapore Airlines and Lufthansa.
Virgin Blue cuts the cost of survival
Virgin Blue is pinning its survival and expansion plan for the recession to much less cash than originally expected in the $231 million equity raising announced this morning.
Boeing’s hopes for its Dreamliner are turning into nightmares
The Dreamliner 787 is now in limbo: a family of jets for which there is no first flight date, no flight testing and certification schedule, and no performance parameters for the airlines that ordered them.
Tiger will push Qantas to eat its own
Tiger’s move on the key Sydney-Melbourne route will force big changes at Qantas.
