Sensational-Adelaide.com

rogue wrote:Anyone see the Qatar government Boeing C-17 painted in Qatar Airways livery today at Adelaide Airport?

Australia and China reach new deal to boost the number of airline seats
Steve Creedy, Aviation Writer From: The Australian March 08, 2011 1:26PM

AUSTRALIA and China plan to boost aviation capacity between the two countries by up to 50 per cent, or 8000 seats per week.

The countries have signed memorandum of understanding to immediately boost the weekly seats between the two countries from the old cap of 14,500 to 18,500.

Another 4000 seats will be added from February next year and airlines will be able to offer an additional 2500 seats per week to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth as long as they make a stopover in a regional airport.

The agreement also allows Australian carriers to fly to China through four additional intermediate points and to operate services beyond China to four more destinations of their choosing.

More than 1.7 million people travelled between Australia and China last year, up 21 per cent on the previous year, and the market has become a major focus for Australian airports.

"China is our fastest growing aviation market, with its airlines already operating at full capacity under the previous air services MOU," Mr Albanese said.

"The new MOU is also good news for Australian exporters as it maintains open capacity limits on the movement of freight into and out of China."

The agreement comes as the International Air Transport Association’s latest financial monitor showed the pace of airline profit improvement was slowing as fuel prices squeezed margins but air travel and freight volumes rebounded strongly in January.

metro wrote:that has to be the biggest joke, Adelaide Airport being called a "regional" airport

maybe back in the 90s but thesedays...probably the best damn regional airport i've seen, it's better than some major airports in this country *cough* Perth