John Walton
AuthorNew stripes aim to change perceptions of Tigerair
October 21, 2015 11 commentWith a new uniform and a significant investment into its customer-facing and backend IT systems, Virgin Australia-owned low-cost carrier Tigerair is hoping to change passengers’ perceptions of the airline. “Our flights have never been consistently more punctual, our customer service never stronger and our customer satisfaction levels are now at an all-time high. It’s time
Read moreAir New Zealand farewells the 737
September 7, 2015 4 commentAir New Zealand has retired its iconic Boeing 737-300 aircraft, with the final flight, NZ557 between Auckland and Christchurch, operated by ZK-NGI on September 6. It closed a chapter of domestic and trans-Tasman aviation that the airline has been marking, well aware of the historic nature of these aircraft and the relationship New Zealanders have with
Read moreInmarsat Global Xpress goes global with third I-5 satellite launch
August 30, 2015 0 commentWith the successful orbiting of its I-5 F3 satellite on Friday, Inmarsat has the third of three satellites that will enable it to offer truly global Ka-band broadband connectivity to airlines and their passengers. This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members. Login Become a Member To continue reading the rest of this article, please
Read moreWill Qantas’s 787-9 improve the passenger experience?
August 21, 2015 21 commentAs more details emerge about Qantas’s selection of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners for its future fleet, the passenger experience implications are fascinating, even given the background of the continued focus on costs and profitability within Qantas International. “We are halfway through the biggest and fastest transformation in our history. Without that transformation, we would not be
Read moreDassault ups its biz-jet game, rolling out the new Falcon 5X
June 3, 2015 2 commentDassault’s new Falcon 5X jet rolled out June 2 in a flashy ceremony at its Bordeaux-Mérignac facility, and the business jet airframer is expecting its new long-range, large-cabin business jet to be a cornerstone of its six-strong family. The 5X (formerly codenamed SMS for Super-Mid-Size) offers a larger fuselage diameter and cabin volume than its
Read moreVirgin Australia’s new NZ business class: telegraphing trans-Tasman intentions?
February 27, 2015 5 commentVirgin Australia is to start flying its first business class seats across the Tasman on February 28, with the old formerly red Eurobusiness-style premium economy seats from the age of Virgin Blue and Pacific Blue to be replaced by the 2011-era Virgin Australia recliner seats. Flights between Auckland and Sydney will be the first to see
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