Qantas has announced plans to revamp the cabins of five Boeing 717 aircraft it uses on regional flights. The aircraft, which are operated by QantasLink, now include a business class cabin and in-flight entertainment for all passengers. “QantasLink will introduce a full business experience on these aircraft, including market-leading seats, premium food ...

Asia Pacific, May 16, 2013

The finalists of Tourism Australia’s ‘Best Jobs in the World’ campaign have been selected, and will now travel Down Under for the final showdown. The tourism board has whittled the list of entrants down from 330,000 to just 18 - three for each of the six jobs available. Virgin Australia will ...

Asia Pacific, May 15, 2013

Qantas and Emirates will now be able to include trans-Tasman flights in their global partnership, after New Zealand’s government agreed to approve the joint venture. The country's Ministry of Transport has authorised the partnership for an initial period of five years, meaning that Qantas' New Zealand flights can now be operated ...

Asia Pacific, May 15, 2013

Virgin Australia has officially launched a new regional carrier, created following its recent purchase of Perth-based Skywest Airlines. In a ceremony at Perth airport this week, Virgin's founder Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Australia’s CEO John Borghetti celebrated the birth of the newly-branded airline, unveiling the first two aircraft to be ...

Asia Pacific, May 9, 2013

Tourism Tasmania is aiming to attract an increasing number of Asian visitors with the lure of clean air and fresh food. Speaking to Travel Daily on Thursday (25 April 2013), ahead of the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) in Sydney, John Fitzgerald, CEO of Tourism Tasmania, said the island state was seeing ...

Asia Pacific, April 25, 2013

Merlin Entertainments is planning a major refurbishment of the Melbourne Aquarium. The company will spend AU$8 million (US$8.2m) on the five month renovation of the aquarium, which will see it relaunched under Merlin's Sea Life brand. The company acquired Melbourne Aquarium in 2012, adding to its portfolio of attractions in Australia, which ...

Asia Pacific, April 25, 2013

Singapore Airlines (SIA) has agreed to acquire another 9.9% of Virgin Australia, taking its total stake in the carrier to 19.9%. The deal will see SIA purchase 255.5 million shares currently held by the Virgin Group at AU$0.48 per share. The total value of the deal is AU$122.6m (US$125.7m). “Increasing our stake ...

Asia Pacific, April 24, 2013

Virgin Australia has been given the go-ahead to purchase a 60% stake in Tiger Airways' Australian unit. Australia's competition regular, the ACCC, approved the tie-up this week, enabling Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin group to extend its reach in Australia's aviation sector. Earlier this month the airline completed the acquisition of 100% ...

Asia Pacific, April 23, 2013