Thursday, 14 November 2024

Australian airfares increase since REX collapse


Australia's airline industry is notably a duopolistic one, with Qantas and Virgin Australia controlling 95% of the domestic passenger market. This dominance persists despite numerous attempts by other companies to establish themselves over the years. 2024 has witnessed the notable failures of Bonza and Rex airlines that had sparked hopes for increased competition in the market. Their departure is now showing its expected consequences.

A recent quarterly report by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) indicates that domestic airfares on major city routes have risen by 13.3% as of September, following Rex Airlines' cessation of capital city services at July's end.


The ACCC's findings also revealed a significant rise in the cost of "best discount economy" tickets on routes formerly serviced by Rex—95% between Adelaide and Melbourne, and 54% between Canberra and Melbourne.

Additionally, the report highlights a decline in fuel prices by over 40% in the 12 months leading up to September, a reduction not reflected in the airlines' pricing strategies. With Australia's limited competition, it appears airfares will continue to be high, driven by increased demand and reduced supply.

For Australian passengers, the only viable solution to achieve lower domestic airfares is increased competition from another airline, although this may seem unlikely in the near future. A new airline starting up in Australia would require substantial financial support to withstand market volatility and must be solely dedicated to its operation.

There is a glimmer of hope with the potential entry of Koala Airlines, which has recently announced its intention to join the market and succeed.

Many customers are likely hoping that Koala will succeed where Bonza and Rex did not. However, Koala's market entry is still some distance away as the airline is in the process of obtaining an Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) from CASA and acquiring a new fleet.

Koala has revealed little about its business strategy, other than offering a cash refund guarantee for passengers and planning to use artificial intelligence to stay competitive in the market.

Tuesday, 12 November 2024

Looking back on the world's deadliest mid-air collision

On the 12th of November 1996, Saudia Flight 763, a Boeing 747 en route from Delhi-Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL/VIDP), India to Dhahran International Airport (DHA/OEDR), Saudi Arabia, and a Kazakhstan Airlines Flight 1907, an Ilyushin Il-76 en route from Shymkent Airport (CIT/UAII), Kazakhstan to Delhi-Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL/VIDP), India collided over the village of Charkhi Dadri, around 100 km (62 miles) west of Delhi. 

The crash killed all 349 people on board both planes, making it the world's deadliest mid-air collision and the deadliest aviation accident to occur in India. There were 312 POB the Saudi flight and 37 POB the Kazakhstan flight. The crash was caused by failure of the Kazakhstani crew to maintain the correct altitude, because of confused dialogue with the tower, communicated via the radio operator, while also apparently fighting turbulence.

Investigations showed the Kazakh aircraft had descended below its assigned altitude of 15,000 feet and was flying at 14,500 feet. A few seconds later the same aircraft had descended another 310 feet, giving an altitude of 14,190 feet, 810 feet below its assigned altitude. Shortly afterwards both aircraft collided, plummeting down in flames and crashed in an arid farming area.

The Saudia flight departed Delhi at 18:32 local time while the Kazakhstan flight was descending simultaneously to land at Delhi. Both flights were controlled by approach controller. The Kazakhstan Airlines plane was cleared to descend to 15,000 feet when it was 74 nautical miles (137 km) from the beacon of the destination airport, while the Saudia plane, travelling on the same airway but in the opposite direction, was cleared to climb to 14,000 feet. About eight minutes later, around 18:40, the Kazakhstan flight reported having reached its assigned altitude of 15,000 feet, but it was actually lower, at 14,500 feet, and still descending. At this time, ATC advised the flight, "Identified traffic 12 o'clock, reciprocal Saudia Boeing 747, 10 nautical miles (19 km) report in sight."

The controller called Flight 1907 again and again, but he received no reply. He tried to warn of the other flight's distance but was too late. The two aircraft collided, with the tail of the Kazakhstan flight slicing through left wing of the Saudia 747 and horizontal stabiliser.

The factors contributing to the unauthorised descent of Kazak aircraft to FL-140, departing from the assigned FL-150, were:
1) inadequate knowledge of English language of Kazak pilot, resulting in wrong interpretations of ATC instructions.

2) poor airmanship and lack of proper CRM (Crew Resource Management) skill on the part of PIC (Pilot-in-Command) compounded by leadership quality lacking in him.


Aircraft Information No 1
Airline: Saudi Arabian Airlines
Code: SV/SVA
Aircraft: Boeing 747-168B
Registration: HZ-AIH
Serial Number: 22748
Engines: 4 Rolls-Royce RB211-524C2
First Flew: 03/02/1982
Age at accident: 14 Years 10 Months


Aircraft Information No 2
Airline: Kazakhstan Airlines
Code: K4/KZA
Aircraft: Ilyushin Il-76TD
Registration: UN-76435
Serial Number: 1023413428
Engines: 4 x Aviadvigatel PS-90 turbofan engines

THOUGHTS ARE WITH THE FAMILIES AND FREINDS THINKING OF LOVED ONES TODAY

End of the road for India's Vistara

The merger of Vistara into Air India was scheduled for completion yesterday, the 11th of November 2024. As of this morning, Vistara ceases to exist. Tata SIA Airlines Limited, known as Vistara, was an Indian full-service airline headquartered in Gurgaon, with its main hub at Indira Gandhi International Airport.

The airline, a joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, began operations on the 9th of January 2015, with its first flight from Delhi to Mumbai. Vistara operated in 50 destinations with a fleet that included Airbus A320neo, Airbus A321neo, and Boeing 787-9 aircraft. Following the merger, Singapore Airlines will hold a 25.1% stake in the combined entity of Air India.

A specialized "war room" has been set up to ensure a smooth transition and prevent any service disruptions. This involves teams from customer service, engineering, and operations. The regulatory aspects are also being finalized, including updates to Air India's air operator certificate.

The merger, which was announced in November 2023 by SIA and Tata Sons, entails an agreement for SIA to invest up to INR 50,200 million (equivalent to SGD 880 million, based on exchange rates at the time) to maintain a 25.1% stake in Air India. This includes SIA's share of any funding previously provided by Tata, along with the associated funding costs, before the merger's completion.


Monday, 11 November 2024

Total Linhas Aereas Boeing 737-400F catches fire on landing

A Total Airlines Boeing 737-400 (SF) traveling from Vitória-Eurico de Aguiar Salles International Airport, (VIX/SBVT) to São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport, (GRU/SBGR) executed an emergency landing at São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) due to a fire in the cargo hold. 

The plane left Vitória International Airport (VIX) at 23:34 local time (02:34 UTC) on a scheduled cargo flight to São Paulo-Guarulhos. During the approach to runway 28L, the crew declared a full emergency. The aircraft landed at 00:42 local time, and fire services responded upon its complete stop on the runway. 

On landing, the tower notified the crew they could see fire from the aircraft. Stopping on the runway, the crew evacuated via the cockpit escape rope through the cockpit windows, emergency services responded and penetrated the fuselage to extinguish the fire. The following morning, about 8 hours after landing, and after all cargo was unloaded, the aircraft was towed off the runway. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, in particular the fire burned through the aircraft crown.

Aircraft Information:
Airline: Total Cargo
Code: TTL
Aircraft: Boeing 737-4Q8
Registration: PS-TLB
Serial Number: 26299
Engines: 2 x CFMI CFM56-3C1
First Flew: 6th April 1994
Age: 30.6 Years Old


The history of PS-TLB

19/04/1994 TC-JEK THY Turkish Airlines 
22/04/2000 HL7527 Asiana Airlines 
21/04/2010 SP-ENB Enter Air 
13/03/2018 EI-STP ASL Airlines Ireland
06/06/2024 PS-TLB Total Linhas Aereas 


Remembrance Day 2024

Today marks the 106th anniversary of the Armistice Day (suspension of fighting) which ended the First World War (1914–1918).

One hundred and six years ago today the guns of the Western Front fell silent after four years of continuous warfare. With their armies retreating and close to collapse, German leaders signed an Armistice, bringing to an end the First World War. From the summer of 1918, the five divisions of the Australian Corps had been at the forefront of the allied advance to victory. Beginning with their stunning success at the battle of Hamel in July, they helped to turn the tide of the war at Amiens in August, followed by the capture of Mont St Quentin and Pèronne, and the breaching of German defences at the Hindenburg Line in September. By early October the exhausted Australians were withdrawn from battle. They had achieved a fighting reputation out of proportion to their numbers, but victory had come at a heavy cost. They suffered almost 48,000 casualties during 1918, including more than 12,000 dead. In the four years of the war more than 330,000 Australians had served overseas, and more than 60,000 of them had died. The social effects of these losses cast a long shadow over the post-war decades. Each year on this day Australians observe one minute’s silence at 11am, in memory of those who died or suffered in all wars and armed conflicts.
    
On the first anniversary of the armistice in 1919 two minutes' silence was instituted as part of the main commemorative ceremony at the new Cenotaph in London. The silence was proposed by Australian journalist Edward Honey, who was working in Fleet Street. At about the same time, a South African statesman made a similar proposal to the British Cabinet, which endorsed it. King George V personally requested all the people of the British Empire to suspend normal activities for two minutes on the hour of the armistice "which stayed the worldwide carnage of the four preceding years and marked the victory of Right and Freedom". The two minutes' silence was popularly adopted, and it became a central feature of commemorations on Armistice Day.



Red poppies line the Wall of Honour at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra
Red poppies line the Wall of Honour at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra
   Photo Credit - Gouldy99
















The red poppy, known as the Flanders poppy, has become a familiar emblem of Remembrance Day due to the poem "In Flanders Fields" written by Canadian physician Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae. After reading the poem, Moina Michael, a professor at the University of Georgia, wrote the poem, "We Shall Keep the Faith," and swore to wear a red poppy on the anniversary. The custom spread to Europe and the countries of the British Empire and Commonwealth within three years. Madame Anne E. Guerin tirelessly promoted the practice in Europe and the British Empire. In the UK Major George Howson fostered the cause with the support of General Haig. Poppies were worn for the first time at the 1921 anniversary ceremony. At first real poppies were worn. These poppies bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in World War I; their brilliant red colour became a symbol for the blood spilled in the war.

Please remember to pause at 11.00am today to remember those who selflessly fought for our freedom and never came home.



                                   LEST WE FORGET


Sunday, 10 November 2024

More from Tokyo's Haneda Airport

JAPAN AIR BOEING 737-846 JA321J (MSN 35350)

AIR DO BOEING 737-781 JA16AN (MSN 33889)


SOLASEED AIR BOEING 737-86N JA803X (MSN 39395)
NASSI JET MIYAZAKI LIVERY

ALL NIPPON BOEING 787-9 JA836A (MSN 34527)

JAPAN AIR BOEING 767-346 JA16J (MSN 35813)

AIR DO BOEING 767-381 JA613A (MSN 33507)

GULFSTREAM G650ER N805TM (MSN 6236)

AIR DO BOEING 767-381 JA607A (MSN 32976)



SKYMARK AIRLINES BOEING 737-8HX JA73NP (MSN 38109)

CHINA AIRLINES AIRBUS A330-343 B-1065 (MSN 1858)


ALL NIPPON BOEING 737-881 JA70AN (MSN 33913)

AIR CHINA AIRBUS A321-213 B-6383 (MSN 3678)

ALL NIPPON BOEING 767-381 JA623A (MSN 40894)

UNITED BOEING 777-222 N788UA (MSN 26942)

CATHAY PACIFIC BOEING 777-367 B-KPE (MSN 36156)

AMERICAN AIRLINES BOEING 777-223 N778AN (MSN 29587)


DELTA AIRBUS A330-941 N420DX (MSN 2021)



ALL NIPPON BOEING 787-9 JA830A (MSN 34522)

JAPAN AIRLINES AIRBUS A350-941 JA15XJ (MSN 543)

 

Saturday, 9 November 2024

Engine failure starts grass fire at Sydney Airport

QANTAS BOEING 737-838 VH-VYH (MSN 34180)

Airservices Australia has confirmed that a Qantas flight traveling from Sydney (SYD/YSSY) to Brisbane (BNE/YBBN) experiencing an engine failure on departure caused a grass fire at Sydney Airport. The fire, which was near the runway, had been extinguished around twenty minutes later. Qantas flight QF520 got airborne at 12:35 pm on Friday but had to return, landing safely at 1.05 pm. 


The captain reportedly informed passengers of an issue with the right engine. Following a preliminary inspection, Qantas described the incident as a "contained engine failure." The aircraft, after briefly circling, landed without incident at Sydney Airport, and no passenger injuries were reported.

ABC reporter Mark Willacy, who was on board, informed ABC that passengers immediately sensed something was amiss after takeoff. "As we taxied to the runway and the pilot turned onto it, giving full thrust, we reached the runway's end... the wheels lifted off the ground, followed by a loud bang and a jarring shudder throughout the plane," Willacy recounted to ABC.

"It was apparent the plane was attempting a full takeoff on one engine, which is possible, but it struggled to achieve the expected altitude during a normal takeoff," he explained. "The aircraft had a real battle to become airborne."

Georgina Lewis, a producer for Nine News who was also on the aircraft, shared a comparable account. She reported hearing a loud noise, after which passengers were informed that an engine issue necessitated a return to the airport.

"As we were accelerating down the runway, a loud bang was heard. Roughly ten minutes afterward, the pilot announced that there was an issue with the right-hand engine during take-off, leading to its shutdown for safety reasons," she explained to Sydney radio 2GB.


Aircraft Information:
Airline: Qantas
Code: QF/QFA
Aircraft: Boeing 737-838
Registration: VH-VYH
Serial Number: 34180
Engines: 2 x CFMI CFM56-7B26
First Flew: November 2005
Age: 19 Years Old