SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Qantas Airways posted a bumper 17.9 percent jump in interim net profit Thursday and announced a share buyback while outlining plans to create one of the southern hemisphere’s biggest pilot academies. The Australian carrier’s result came in at Aus$607 million (US$473 million), with a strong performance from its domestic arm boosting the bottom line. Underlying profit before tax, its preferred measure, which strips out one-time costs, was the highest in its […]
Tag: Aviation
Clear skies raise hopes in Iran’s hunt for missing plane
TEHRAN, Iran (AFP) — The hunt for a plane that went missing in Iran’s Zagros mountains resumed for a third day on Tuesday with better weather raising hopes for the search and rescue teams. “Given the good weather conditions, clear skies and less wind, there is a good visibility today for continuing the search,” Mojtaba Khaledi, spokesman for the emergency services, told the official IRNA news agency. Aseman Airlines flight EP3704 disappeared on Sunday morning […]
Iran resumes hunt for missing plane
TEHRAN, Iran (AFP) — Iranian rescue teams resumed their search on Monday for a passenger plane that disappeared high in the Zagros mountains the previous day with 66 people onboard, local media reported. State television said the weather had improved after blizzard conditions hampered search efforts Sunday, and that helicopters were now able to take part in the hunt for Aseman Airlines flight EP3704. The authorities had called off the rescue effort overnight as heavy […]
Pagbili ng chopper sa ibang bansa, ikinokonsidera ng pamahalaan
MANILA, Philippines (Eagle News) — Bukas ang Malacañang sa posibilidad ng pagbili ng mga helicopter sa iba, kasunod ng ipinag-utos ng Canadian Government na pagrepaso ng 233-million US dollars agreement sa harap ng pangamba na gagamitin ang mga ito laban sa mga rebelde. “We purchase helicopters. If they don’t want to sell, well, we may consider the prospect of procuring them from other sources,” pahayag ni Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque. ‘Di na binanggit ni Presidential […]
Canada sells 16 helicopters to Philippines after drug war row
MANILA, Philippines (AFP The Philippines has bought 16 new Bell helicopters from Canada for about US$235 million to strengthen its fight against Islamic militants and other domestic insurgencies, defence officials said Wednesday. The two governments announced the deal less than three months after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau clashed with host President Rodrigo Duterte over Philippine drug war killings, on the sidelines of a Manila summit. The Philippine defence department signed the 12- billion-peso (US$234.8 million) Bell […]
Boeing announces service orders worth nearly $1 billion
SINGAPORE, Singapore (AFP) — Boeing said Tuesday its global services unit has signed deals worth nearly $1 billion at the Singapore Airshow in areas like parts, maintenance, modification and training. The deals underscore the growing importance of the huge commercial aviation market in the Asia-Pacific region. “Boeing is serious about helping customers optimise the performance of their fleets and reduce operational costs,” said Stan Deal, president and chief executive of Boeing Global Services. Among the […]
Pilot injured as S. Korean jet catches fire at Singapore Airshow
SINGAPORE, Singapore (AFP) — A pilot was slightly injured when a South Korean aircraft taking part in the Singapore Airshow skidded off the runway and caught fire Tuesday while taking off, authorities said. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said the aircraft from the South Korean air force’s aerobatic team Black Eagles “skidded and crashed into the grass verge” at the side of the runway and caught fire. The accident happened as the plane was taking […]
Dubai airport retains top international spot in 2017
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AFP) — Dubai airport was the world’s busiest for international passengers in 2017 for the fourth year running, with 88.2 milion travellers, the United Arab Emirates’ state news agency WAM said Monday. International traffic at the UAE airport increased by 4.6 million passengers compared to the previous year, WAM said, despite a laptop ban temporarily imposed on its long-haul flights to the United States. A major transit hub situated on transcontinental air routes, […]
US state of New Jersey outlaws drunk droning
NEW YOR, United States (AFP) — Drunk driving has been a social taboo for decades, but New Jersey has now added drunk droning to the statute books: outlawing the flying of unmanned aircraft after one too many drinks. The law makes it an offense to operate a drone under the influence of intoxicating liquor, narcotic, hallucinogenic or habit-producing drug or with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or more. Infractions can be punishable by […]
Italian govt mulling three offers for ailing Alitalia
MILAN, Italy (AFP) — Friday Italy’s government said Friday it is considering three bids for troubled airline Alitalia from Lufthansa, EasyJet and a private equity firm, and hopes to have a deal wrapped up by May. “I can confirm that the goal is to complete a deal before the elections”, Economic Development Minister Carlo Calenda said on the La7 television channel, referring to Italy’s general election due on May 4. The three offers received are from German airline giant Lufthansa, US […]
Cathay flight crew ‘saw’ N. Korea missile from plane
HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific said Monday that one of its air crews spotted what they believed to be the missile fired by North Korea last week, as they flew between the United States and the southern Chinese city. The North fired an intercontinental ballistic missile believed capable of hitting the US mainland last Wednesday. A statement from Cathay said a flight crew had that day sighted “what is […]
Several PHL airports receive “one-star” on time ratings; Iloilo Airport beats HK, KL and Seoul int’l airports
QUEZON CITY, Philippines (Eagle News) – For the first time, eight airports in the Philippines received a one-star rating regarding their “on-time” performance by the Official Aviation Guide, an air travel intelligence company based in the United Kingdom. One of these is Iloilo International Airport which is ranked the highest among the airports in the Philippines. It also ranked 14th in Asia, besting even Hong Kong International Airport, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Seoul Incheon International […]





