Interview: Australia’s Pionair to Buy at Least Three Embraer E190s from 2021
Sydney-based wet-lease and charter airline Pionair is looking to purchase at least three more Embraer E190 regional jets in 2021, alongside the E190-100LR it has just added to its fleet. Randal McFarlane, Pionair’s director of business development, tells Smart Aviation…
Australia’s Pionair Buys Embraer E190
Sydney-based wet-lease and charter specialist Pionair has purchased an Embraer E-190-100L, with additional E-190 aircraft to arrive in 2021. Pionair has bought its first E190-100L which it will receive on 24 November, the airline says in a statement. It also…
Regional Aircraft Needed to Develop China’s Regional Routes
The importance of regional aviation to Chinese airlines’ earnings, as a result of COVID-19 restrictions, is highlighting the lack of right-size aircraft on regional routes in China. Boeing 737 and Airbus A320-family aircraft dominate China’s small and medium-size airports even…
Australian Competition Watchdog Approves Virgin-Alliance Tie-Up Despite Rex
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has granted interim authorisation for Virgin Australia and Alliance Airlines to cooperate on some regional routes despite criticism from competitor Regional Express (Rex). The ACCC’s interim authorisation says its preliminary view is that…
Regional Aviation Association of Australia Appoints New Chairman and CEO
The Regional Aviation Association of Australia (RAAA) has appointed Sharp Airlines owner Malcolm Sharp as chairman and Steven Campbell as CEO. Campbell replaces Mike Higgins who is retiring, says the RAAA in a statement Campbell was previously government relations manager…
Australia’s Alliance Buying Toll’s Brisbane MRO
Alliance Airlines’ parent company Alliance Aviation Services is buying Toll Group’s maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) business at Brisbane Airport, which was helping to maintain Virgin Australia’s ATR 72s. The acquisition is strategic because Toll’s facility is adjacent to Alliance…
