The comments made by Air New Zealand’s CFO Rob McDonald concerning ‘painful’ delays to its launch order for the Boeing 787-9 are regarded as the smoke rising from an issue that is about to ignite, reports Ben Sandilands.
Air New Zealand
Qantas A380 forced to divert after flying into ash danger zone
The ATSB has revealed that a Qantas Airbus A380 flew through one of the danger zones for 15 minutes about 210 kilometres north of Nadi, Fiji, just over a week ago.
August 24 will be a bloody day for Qantas
It is rare for Qantas to reveal the performance of its passenger-carrying brands in isolation from each other. The current financial situation is so bad it threatens the very existence of Qantas as a group, says its CEO.
Virgin-Delta deal leaves Qantas at sixes and sevens over no 777s
Qantas finds itself surrounded on the once lucrative routes between Australia and the US by airlines that are capitalising on the biggest fleet blunder it ever made, in choosing NOT to buy Boeing 777s.
Air NZ in no-lose situation after move on Virgin
If the Air NZ purchase of 14.9% of Virgin Blue is a blocking move to prevent, say, Etihad from acquiring a significant interest in the carrier, it may well be thwarted by “unintended consequences”.
Seeking Virginity: Air New Zealand buys into Virgin Blue
Air New Zealand’s pursuit of a stake in Virgin Blue comes at a time when Richard Branson, who owns 26% of the Australian airline, is working the European finance media with stories confirming that he is prepared to sell down his 51% stake in the UK flag carrier Virgin Atlantic, reports Ben Sandilands.
aviation industry New competitive realities for Australian airlines
The competitive topography of air transport in Australia has changed, with Virgin Blue gaining ACCC approval of a trans Tasman alliance with Air New Zealand and a provisional approval of its alliance with Abu Dhabi based Etihad, writes Ben Sandilands.
Does quirky social media sell airline seats?
After a day of phone calls, texts and emails about Air NZ’s latest viral ad campaign, maybe this blog should help spread the virus. But will it win more customers than it alienates? asks Ben Sandilands.
Medium-term survival of Virgin Blue at risk
It’s backs to the wall time for Virgin Blue, with the ACCC today making a draft rejection of its proposed trans-Tasman route-sharing deal with Air New Zealand.
The end of “free” for frequent flyers
The airlines don’t want to give away flights for ‘free’ to frequent flyers anymore, they want to sell however many millions of points they care to mint out of thin air to third parties. What is left to look forward to? asks Ben Sandilands.
Virgin, Air NZ agreement a shaky truce on the shaky isles
Virgin Blue and Air New Zealand have come up with a proposed alliance that makes them friends across the Tasman and continued enemies inside New Zealand.
The iJet age begins
There will be four very different forms of ‘smart’ check-in procedures in domestic air travel by the end of this year, which should allow people who have checked in to board their flight right up to the moment the door is sealed. Ben Sandilands explains.
Single cabin short haul shake up
Another set of nails have been driven into the coffin of class distinctions and curtain partitioned cabins in short haul air travel, with Air New Zealand to offer single cabin services across the Tasman, writes Ben Sandilands.
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?
Death by pinstripes: airlines lose their best clients
There aren’t enough masters of the universe doing the longest non-stop business commute on the planet to keep it fully alive any more, writes Ben Sandilands.
Oz vs NZ: Qantas attack
While the rest of the world’s air transport market goes into shock, Qantas has gone after the struggling Air New Zealand with massive force, writes Ben Sandilands.
Tips and rumours
A mate is a Flight Officer with Air New Zealand, he was operating their service HKG-LHR the same day as the British Airways crash and was just a bit behind BAW37, he says it was the coldest he’s seen up high with the OAT at -57. Their fuel temp got to -43, well below the […]
Captains for cash threaten airlines
Big money is being offered to captains of Pacific Blue flights to switch to other international and domestic airlines as the world wide shortage of pilots tightens, writes Ben Sandilands.
Dubai Aerospace bids for Auckland Airport
There are some things airport and airline investors need to know about the two year old Dubai Aerospace Enterprises (DAE) group of companies which has just put $2.3 billion on the table for at least 51 per cent of Auckland Airport.
