Space weather impacts many modern-day technologies. But one of the most concerning – and least reported – space weather effects is the increased radiation exposure to passengers on commercial long-distance…
A rich western businessman sips champagne as he cruises at 35,000ft and looks down at an archipelago below populated with subsistence fishers. In a few years these coastal communities will be washed away…
With clear international agreements families of passengers lost to air disasters could be granted some certainty.
Azhar Rahim/EPA/AAP
More than 100 days on from the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, the search for the plane continues at a mounting cost for all involved, including the Australian government. Last month senior…
Safety matters: a review into aviation safety regulation is due to report this month.
Contemplative imaging/Flickr
At a recent Senate Committee inquiry into the future of Qantas, both major airlines deflected concerns about the quality and safety of offshored maintenance with assurances that the facilities are safe…
Malaysia Airlines is still in business, but is rethinking its business model.
ailing_/Flickr
Malaysia Airlines flight 370 disappeared on March 8, 2014, almost three months ago. Despite comprehensive, almost unprecedented search operations involving dozens of states, the aircraft, or what remains…
Putting old airliners out to pasture early and replacing them would fill fields, but clean the skies.
Benny Davis/USAF
Although aviation emissions contribute only 3-5% of the total impact on the planet’s climate, this is steadily growing and is a surprisingly intractable problem to solve. As prosperity around the world…
Qantas is investing in a loss-making strategy, and there’s no easy way out.
Dave Hunt/AAP
Tony Abbott has thrown a curve ball at Qantas in refusing to offer up the debt guarantee it wanted, but seeking to abolish Part 3 of the Qantas Sale Act in its entirety. This opens the door to foreign…
Imagine that Virgin Australia was majority owned by a Chinese state-owned enterprise (SOE). Then, if the owners of Virgin tipped A$350 million of new equity into the company to sustain Virgin through a…
The federal government will allow majority foreign ownership in Qantas.
AAP/EPA
The federal government will introduce legislation this week to allow majority foreign ownership of Qantas. After a two hour cabinet debate, prime minister Tony Abbott announced tonight the government would…
Qantas doesn’t just have a cost management problem: its strategy is failing.
AAP
As was widely expected, Qantas this morning announced a major restructure of its operations. Included in that announcement are: 5000 job losses. A fleet restructure. Salary freezes. Route restructures…
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce: “An unacceptable result”.
Paul Miller/AAPImage
Qantas will cut 5000 jobs, freeze wages of all staff, and sell or defer buying more than 50 aircraft in a bid to cut A$2 billion in costs. The airline said the roles to be lost include 1500 management…
Qantas is heading into difficult times, but is it still a good investment?
Mick Tsikas/AAP
So it begins – a company running to Canberra with a good story and in need of some or other political favour. To be fair, these companies tend to have very good stories – consumer safety, national security…
Qantas is poised to receive some form of government assistance, but will it act in the national interest?
griffs0000/Flickr
The Federal Government appears ready to “throw a lifeline” to Qantas, which has been seeking a government-backed debt guarantee and a lifting of the 49% foreign ownership limit in the Qantas Sale Act…
One out, one in: better high speed rail services could dampen flight demand.
Gareth Fuller/PA
The expansion of UK airports could mean breaching climate targets, Climate Change Committee head David Kennedy has said. Ahead of a full report next summer that would examine the airport expansion plans…
Coming down to earth - just like house prices near airports.
Steve Parsons/PA
The interim report of the Davies Airports Commission published this week presents an in-depth analysis of aviation’s value to the UK economy and suggests the country will need a new runway by 2030, and…
Jetstar Hong Kong remains grounded, as it awaits government approval.
danzden/Flickr
The downgrade of Qantas’ credit rating to junk status by Standard & Poor’s has sparked serious concern for the future of the airline. But the fact is the airline industry has largely been unprofitable…
Qantas management are weighing up available options to bring the troubled airline back to profitability.
Yesterday’s Qantas guidance of a first-half loss of up to A$300 million is a continuation of poor financial performance which began in 2009. It’s not since then that Qantas has delivered a return on equity…
Removing the debris is just the first step.
Andrew Milligan/PA
Following any aircraft accident, the first priority has to be the rescue of injured people and the recovery of those who may be deceased. Inevitably, this may mean evidence that could be used to investigate…
Qantas wants a regulatory environment that would allow more foreign investment in the airline.
Paul Miller/AAP
Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey has kicked off a debate about the foreign ownership of Qantas, flagging a review of the legislation that currently limits foreign holdings. He says the airline is bound by…
A plane struggles to keep its course in stormy weather at Amsterdam airport last month.
EPA/OLAF KRAAK
If global aviation was a country, its emissions would be ranked about seventh in the world, between Germany and South Korea on CO2 emissions alone. Yet despite flying being a growing global contributor…