Flights will resume late Sunday local time, from Darwin airport in Australia after ash from a volcano eruption in Southern Indonesia closed airspace for hundreds of kilometres. The volcano, which erupted on Friday, is 1373km northwest of Darwin on the Indonesian island of Sumbawa. It is roughly halfway between Bali and Timor. The volcano was reportedly erupting up to 15 kilometres (nine miles) in the air. Some tourists slept on the floor of the airport. For information on departures from the airport, check here.
Air New Zealand’s new 787-9 takes flight
Wishing desperately I was in Seattle this week when Air New Zealand’s first Boeing 787-9 took off from Paine Field airport north of Seattle for a three hour and ten minute flight. It reached an altitude of 11,800 metres (39,000 feet) and an airspeed of 360 knots during its B1 test flight during which the two pilots throughly checked all systems to ensure performance while simultaneously checking full cabin functionality of every aspect of the cabin is tested in-flight. Air New Zealand is the launch customer for the Boeing 787-9 and this aircraft (tail registration ZK-NZE) is the first of…
Volcanic ash cloud spreads south – Yahoo!7
Darwin airport has been closed. Volcanic ash cloud spreads south – Yahoo!7.
Vincent Aviation Australia Collapses
The airline serving one of the most remote regions of the world: the Australian Northern Territory collapsed this week. Vincent Aviation Australia, based in Darwin, advised its 120 employees by letter that they had lost their jobs, grounded its fleet, advised customers to contact their banks for a refund and closed its doors. Their New Zealand operations are not impacted.
Thai Curfew Times Relaxed
In a move which is intended to help tourism, the military has relaxed the curfew. The curfew now runs from from midnight to 4 a.m. (It was 10pm to 6am). Markets, shops, petrol stations and bars will now be able to stay open longer. This follows a fall in tourism numbers of 20 per cent since martial law was imposed just over a week ago. Nine per cent of Thailand‘s GDP is tourism related. There has also been a drop in consumer spending by Thais. Outside Bangkok, tourists and locals are reporting little difference to day…
Don’t let the Bedbugs bite
In my travel adventures, I have managed to miss out on the joy of meeting bedbugs (Cimex lectularius). There is signficant fear from many about these critters. Bedbugs are tiny small wingless insects that feed by exclusively on the blood of warm blooded animals. Humans, are therefore, ideal hosts for them. Bed bugs feed every five to ten days. The peak feeding time for a bed bug is about one hour before sunrise. They pierce the skin of the host with two microscopic hollow tubes. One tube injects saliva which contains anaesthetics and anticoagulants, so that the…
Jetstar at ten
I make no secret of my dislike of Jetstar (JQ), the low cost arm of Australian airline Qantas. We have never really bonded. I am not alone according to the complaints on the Don’tflyjetstar website. Some would say that Jetstar has been then saviour of Qantas and others would say the advancement of the budget carrier has come at the cost of the mainline carrier. The story started when QANTAS acquired Impulse Airlines, a Newcastle based independent carrier. It took its lessons from that to launch Jetsar in May 2004. The aim was to compete directly…
Thai Army takes full control in Coup -imposes curfew.
The Royal Thai Army have taken full control of Thailand, dismissing the government on Thursday 22nd May, 2014 16:30h local time. General Prayuth said in Bangkok today: ‘To restore peace back to the country in a short time and to reform the country’s politics, economy and society, the Thai military, army, navy, air force and police have seized power from May 22 onward”. The country is now being run by a body known as The National Peace and Order Maintaining Council (NPOMC). General Prayuth also said.“I ask the people to remain calm and carry on with their business…
Man uses bag on lavatory less flight
What would you do on a two hour 50 minute flight in a plane without a bathroom? Not fly? Ask for the plane to be diverted? Use a bag on the plane? An incident on 30 April 2014, on an Air Canada Express flight from Deer Lake (YDF) on the west coast of Newfoundland to Wabush (YWK) in Western Labrador is being widely reported today. Air Canada Express is the brand name for “feeder flights” in Canada. The flight operator (not Air Canada) reportedly substituted the regular plane due to a mechanical problem with the…
Money can’t buy you happiness but..
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