Qantas completed a programme of interior upgrades on its domestic fleet of Boeing 767 aircraft. The AU$20 million (US$19.5m) project has seen the refurbishment of all 15 of the airline's domestic B767s, with new leather seats in business class, iPads equipped with in-flight entertainment content in all cabins, plus new carpets, ...

Asia Pacific, May 23, 2013

The Thai resort island of Phuket will be connected to the Philippines for the first time this summer, following the launch of a new direct flight by Cebu Pacific Airways (CEB). Commencing on 16 August 2013, the new service from Manila will become the first and only direct flight between the ...

Asia Pacific, May 22, 2013

Southeast Asian Airlines (SEAir) has announced plans to launch a new direct flight connecting Singapore with the Philippine resort island of Boracay. From 18 July 2013, the Manila-based low-cost carrier will commence three weekly flights on the route from Singapore's Changi airport to Kalibo, the gateway to Boracay. The 3.5-hour flight ...

Asia Pacific, May 21, 2013

The long-delayed Boeing 787 Dreamliner will be offer such improved operational performance that it will be “worth the wait”, according to Qantas’ Group CEO, Alan Joyce. The Australian airline’s head was speaking as the Australia-made components for Jetstar’s first B787 were shipped to the US, where they will be used in ...

Asia Pacific, May 20, 2013

Philippine Airlines (PAL) has taken delivery of its fifth new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The new twin-aisle jet arrived at Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport recently following a delivery flight from Boeing's factory in Seattle, and will now be put into service on the airline's long-haul routes to Canada. The new B777 seats ...

Asia Pacific, May 20, 2013

The European Commission reignited the row over its controversial Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) last week, by threatening 10 Chinese and Indian airlines with fines over their refusal to comply with the carbon-cutting scheme. According to a New York Times report late last week, citing the EU's Commissioner for Climate Action, Connie ...

Asia Pacific, May 19, 2013

China Eastern Airlines has taken delivery of a new Airbus A320 aircraft. The single-aisle aircraft comes fitted with 158 passengers in two classes - eight in business class and 150 in economy. It also becomes the first Chinese A320 to come equipped with 'sharklets', the new wing-tip extensions that are designed ...

Asia Pacific, May 19, 2013

Boeing is on the verge of delivering its first Dreamliner to China. China Southern Airlines is expecting to take delivery of its first Boeing 787 by the end of this month, a company executive has confirmed, marking the start of a series of deliveries to the country. The Guangzhou-based airline's Chief ...

Asia Pacific, May 17, 2013