Airline News - Asia / Pacific.

May 31, 2009

Air New Zealand, Boeing, Rolls-Royce

Air New Zealand revealed the results of its Dec. 29 Boeing 747-400 biofuel test flight, saying that data gathered from the 2-hr. flight show that a 50/50 blend of jatropha-based fuel and standard jet fuel could reduce fuel burn by 1.2 percent and carbon dioxide emissions by 60 percent-75 percent on an average 12-hr. 747 flight covering 5,800 nautical miles. The airline earlier had stated that there were no operational problems during the test flight from Auckland that used the fuel blend to power one of the aircraft's Rolls-Royce RB211s. But it said its analysis competed last week of scientific data gathered during the flight revealed a performance that was "better than we expected." May 27, 2009

Qantas Airways

Amid a sharp decline in premium travel, the airline industry appears torn over the future of first-class service. Qantas said Monday it would no longer offer first-class on three long-haul routes, while British Airways will take delivery of four new Boeing 777s without first-class cabins. Meanwhile, competitors like Lufthansa and Air France-KLM are building dedicated first-class lounges and planning luxurious new cabins aboard Airbus A380 aircraft due to enter service in the near future. May 27, 2009

Qantas Airways

Qantas Airways has scrapped first class on some routes, as the global economic downturn grounds many passengers and makes others think twice about paying for a little in-flight luxury. Qantas said it had temporarily taken first class off the San Francisco, Buenos Aires and Melbourne-Hong Kong-London routes, offering business, premium economy and economy classes only. Qantas, Australia's biggest airline, has been suffering from the global economic slowdown like many other carriers. Last month, it warned it would post its first second-half loss in six years as well as unveiling capacity and job cuts to battle a slump in passenger demand and rising competition. World airlines are set to lose USDUSD 4.7 billion this year as a result of the global downturn that has shrunk passenger and cargo demand, industry body the International Air Transport Association estimated at the end of March. May 26, 2009

Qantas Airways, Singapore Airlines

Qantas Airways battling falling sales in business and first class, joined Singapore Airlines in charging passengers more for the extra leg room offered in exit row seats. AustraliaOs biggest carrier, which is forecasting a record second-half loss, said it will charge an additional AUSD 80 (USD 62) to AUSD 160 per ticket for economy-class passengers on international routes depending on the length of the flight. The charges will start next month with frequent flyers able to use their points for the seats, Sydney-based Qantas said in an e- mailed statement today. May 26, 2009

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