Page 16 - AA 2018_09

Debrief

have nonstop flights to Melbourne
Essendon when the airline starts
that route on September 28. The two
routes were previously served by Jetgo,
which went into liquidation in early
June.
–
The Malaysian government has
released the Safety Investigation
Report into missing Malaysia
Airlines flight MH370, which says
investigators have been unable
to find out the real cause for the
disappearance of the aircraft. The
report said it was difficult to conclude
with any certainty what took place
on that fateful night in March 2014.
The last line of the report leaves the
friends and relatives of the 239 people
on board still searching for answers:
“In conclusion, the team is unable
to determine the real cause for the
disappearance of MH370.”
–
Reduced demand in Australia’s
Cathay Pacific says its losses aircraft on order emerged from the a mixture of 787-9s and Airbus A320 natural resources has contributed to
are narrowing. rob finlayson manufacturer’s Toulouse paintshop. narrowbodies. a drop in first half profit for United
The aircraft, MSN220, has been – Kingdom-headquartered aerospace
painted in the airline’s livery and will Still on Air New Zealand, the company and defence group Cobham Plc. The
undergo some further testing before on July 31 announced Dame Therese company has reported underlying
being delivered to the airline “in the Walsh will be its next chairman. operating profit for the six months to
coming months”, Airbus said at the Dame Therese, who joined the Air June 30 2018 of £90.4 million, down
end of July. SIA has said previously New Zealand board two years ago, 4.2 per cent from £94.4 million in the
the first A350-900ULR would be is replacing Tony Carter following prior corresponding period. Revenue
delivered by September. The aircraft the annual shareholders meeting in across the airline group fell 10 per cent
is a contender for Qantas’s Project September 2019. Carter has been to £924.5 million, Cobham plc said in
Sunrise challenge for Airbus and chairman since 2013. a regulatory filing to the London Stock
Boeing to have an aircraft capable of – Exchange August 3. However the
flying from Australia’s east coast to Vietnam Airlines has commenced a order “intake” grew from £916 million
London and New York nonstop with a seasonal upgauge of its Ho Chi Minh to £1,027 million.
commercially viable payload. City-Melbourne service, with the –
– Airbus A350-900 replacing the Boeing Cathay Pacific has reported a
Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA) has 787-9 on the route until the end of narrowing first half loss as higher
become the first operator of the October. Vietnam Airlines is the fifth fuel costs offset gains from improved
Airbus A320neo into Australia after carrier to have A350 operations at passenger and cargo demand and
engine inspection requirements for its Melbourne. its transformation program. The
Boeing 787 fleet led to an equipment – company reported a net loss of
downgauge. RBA substituted the In mid-July, Philippine Airlines HK$263 million for the six months
next generation narrowbody in (PAL) became the latest Airbus A350 to June 30 2018, an improvement
place of the 787 for two Bandar Seri operator when it took delivery of its from a net loss of HK$2.051 billion
Begawan-Melbourne-Bandar Seri first A350-900. PAL planned to use in the prior corresponding period.
Begawan rotations, on July 31/August the type to open up nonstop Manila- Revenue rose 15.7 per cent to
1 and August 11/12, respectively. New York flights, which at 7,404nm HK$53.1 billion, Cathay Pacific said
RBA country manager for Australia will be the seventh longest route by in a regulatory filing to the Hong
Giles Gilbert said the aircraft was distance when it commences at the Kong stock exchange on August 8.
able to operate the 3,047nm route end of October. “We believe that the Cathay Pacific said competition on its
with a full load of passengers and A350 XWB will be a game changer South-West Pacific network, which
luggage. However, there were some for PAL as we compete with the best covers Australia, New Zealand and
restrictions on cargo. There were no in the premium long-haul market,” South Africa, “remained fierce” due
more A320neo flights expected in the president and chief operating officer to increased capacity from other
period ahead. Jaime Bautista said. carriers. However, it said less reliance
– – on transit passengers helped improve
Air New Zealand says it will deploy Nonstop flights from Dubbo to yield. “Obviously we are not yet in the
the Boeing 787-9s on the Auckland- Brisbane have been restored after black, I must acknowledge that to start
Adelaide route between November regional airline Fly Corporate began with, but there are some things that
2018 and March 2019. The airline had serving the route from August 7. I am pleased about,” Cathay Pacific
previously been serving Adelaide with Dubbo residents will also again chief executive Rupert Hogg said.

16 AUSTRALIAN AVIATION