Regional Express model survives tough times ‘Annus Horribilis II’ is the alarmist headline on the front of Regional Express’s annual report for the financial year just gone. And for almost every airline in the world, it has most certainly been an ‘annus horribilis’. Airlines worldwide are hemoriging red ink as global recession takes its toll.

Regional aviation’s challenges & opportunities As it has for many years, the regional aviation continues to be an essential lifeblood for many towns and cities in regional Australia, providing essential services and employment to thousands across the country. “In regional areas, you’ve got to look at aviation as infrastructure,” Regional Aviation Association of Australia (RAAA)

Airline results soured by the global economic crisis Volatility appeared to be the key word when Qantas, Virgin Blue and Air New Zealand delivered largely positive results for the 2008/09 financial year as other airlines around the world continue to struggle financially. While there was considerable pressure on both international and domestic yields, the Qantas

In August a report in The Australian newspaper stated that: “The RAAF faces at least a two year delay in acquiring its planned F-35 Joint Strike Fighter force as the Rudd government moves to exert tighter control on the defence budget”, and “will not receive its initial squadron of F-35s until 2017, at the earliest.