Air Canada To Hire More Staff

Air Canada plans to hire about 1,100 employees, including 200 at its new low-cost carrier, as the airline moves ahead with growth plans following a spate of labour conflicts with its major unions.

The airline, which currently employs some 27,000 people worldwide, said Thursday the jobs are part of its strategy to "seize new commercial opportunities, enhance customer service and renew our workforce."

China to Melbourne

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Sichuan Airlines has joined a growing number of carriers flying direct from Asia to Melbourne. Source: AAP

ANOTHER Chinese airline has joined a growing number of carriers flying direct from Asia to Melbourne.

Sichuan Airlines, majority-owned by the Sichuan provincial government, will fly directly from Chengdu three times a week and establish its Australian headquarters in Melbourne.

Announcing the deal during a trade mission to China, Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu said it was a significant step in positioning the state as Australia's gateway to China.

"Direct air services between Melbourne and Chengdu will increase business, education and tourism ties between Victoria and China," he said.

Chengdu is one of the largest cities in western China, with a population of 14.7 million, and has presented itself as a key driver of China's economic growth in recent decades.

China Eastern, China Southern and Air China all fly directly from China to Melbourne.

New African Airline

AT a time many Nigerian airlines are folding up due to tough operating environment and government’s policies, some are braving the odds to offer new airline services to the huge Nigerian travelling public.

The question is, won’t new entrants like Med-View Airlines, which had taken bold steps to dare to step into a difficult terrain not encounter the same problem as many other airlines that have become extinct?

The Guardian learnt that about three more airlines are at the advanced stages of securing all the important Air Operators Certificate (AOC) from the aviation regulatory body, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

The decision of a new airline, First Nation Airways and others to commence scheduled domestic and regional operations has elicited joy in the sector and afforded older carriers to begin to strategize to continue to retain their market share.

New spirit in air over America

The last great Texas fares war took place 40 years ago, when a cheeky new start-up airline called Southwest launched flights from Dallas to Houston. The flat one-way fare was $20 – saving at least five bucks on rivals' fares. The incumbent airline, Braniff, slashed its fares in response. Southwest hit back with a flat $13 – promoted by full-page newspaper ads reading: "Nobody's going to shoot Southwest Airlines out of the sky for a lousy $13." In fact, business travellers on expenses were encouraged to pay $26, which qualified them for Southwest's rudimentary loyalty scheme: a bottle of whiskey or vodka.

On Thursday, battle commenced once more between the two biggest cities in Texas – with Southwest this time as the incumbent. Its challenger: Spirit Airlines, which describes itself as "arguably the best airline in the Americas". I call it America's answer to Ryanair.

Ethiopian Shows Off Dreamline

Following its landmark as the first Africa airline to operate the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the 777-200LR, Addis Ababa-based Ethiopian Airlines has achieved another milestone by becoming the first African airline to operate the Boeing 777 Freighter (Boeing 777F). The aircraft was delivered at the Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport on Thursday, September 20. Ethiopian leased its first Boeing 777F from GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) with plans to order five more of those. The airline currently operates an all-Boeing fleet of 737, 757, 767, 777, and 787 jets in passenger service and 757, MD-11, 747, and 777 freighters in cargo operations.

JAL cuts flights and share price falls

A Japan Airlines Boeing 747 plane taxis at Tokyo's Haneda Airport

HONG KONG -- Shares of Japan Airlines tumbled Friday after the airline announced it was cutting flights to China amid a dispute over islands in the East China Sea.

Monarch Flight Runs Off Birmingham Runway

Breaking News 

Birmingham Airport's runway has been shut after a plane skidded off it.

Airport officials said the Monarch flight ZB467 from Nice in France skidded off the runway shortly after 13:10 BST.

The airport said the flight had been operated by Lithuanian company Aurela Airlines. There were not thought to be any injuries.

The airport said all flights were suspended and "airfield services" were assisting the airline crew.

Inbound flights have been diverted to East Midlands Airport.