Crash Test Not Dummies.

A test crash of a Boeing 727 in the Sonoran desert to learn more about what actually happens to passengers when a plane goes down found that simply bracing for impact could help save lives.

In one of the most ambitious tests ever undertaken in the name of airline safety, Discovery TV had a Boeing 727 equipped with more than a half a million dollars worth of crash test dummies, 38 specialized cameras and sensors, and a crew of incredibly daring pilots. The pilots, who'd donned parachutes, bailed out of a hatch in the back of the aircraft minutes before the huge jetliner careered into the ground in a horrific crash that tore the plane apart.

Staged last spring as part of the Discovery Channel's "Curiosity Plane Crash," the test crash was the result of four years of planning and consultations with a huge team of experts, all to better understand what happens to passengers when an aircraft goes down.

Air Canada To Hire More Staff

Air Canada plans to hire about 1,100 employees, including 200 at its new low-cost carrier, as the airline moves ahead with growth plans following a spate of labour conflicts with its major unions.

The airline, which currently employs some 27,000 people worldwide, said Thursday the jobs are part of its strategy to "seize new commercial opportunities, enhance customer service and renew our workforce."

China to Melbourne

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Sichuan Airlines has joined a growing number of carriers flying direct from Asia to Melbourne. Source: AAP

ANOTHER Chinese airline has joined a growing number of carriers flying direct from Asia to Melbourne.

Sichuan Airlines, majority-owned by the Sichuan provincial government, will fly directly from Chengdu three times a week and establish its Australian headquarters in Melbourne.

Announcing the deal during a trade mission to China, Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu said it was a significant step in positioning the state as Australia's gateway to China.

"Direct air services between Melbourne and Chengdu will increase business, education and tourism ties between Victoria and China," he said.

Chengdu is one of the largest cities in western China, with a population of 14.7 million, and has presented itself as a key driver of China's economic growth in recent decades.

China Eastern, China Southern and Air China all fly directly from China to Melbourne.

New African Airline

AT a time many Nigerian airlines are folding up due to tough operating environment and government’s policies, some are braving the odds to offer new airline services to the huge Nigerian travelling public.

The question is, won’t new entrants like Med-View Airlines, which had taken bold steps to dare to step into a difficult terrain not encounter the same problem as many other airlines that have become extinct?

The Guardian learnt that about three more airlines are at the advanced stages of securing all the important Air Operators Certificate (AOC) from the aviation regulatory body, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

The decision of a new airline, First Nation Airways and others to commence scheduled domestic and regional operations has elicited joy in the sector and afforded older carriers to begin to strategize to continue to retain their market share.

New spirit in air over America

The last great Texas fares war took place 40 years ago, when a cheeky new start-up airline called Southwest launched flights from Dallas to Houston. The flat one-way fare was $20 – saving at least five bucks on rivals' fares. The incumbent airline, Braniff, slashed its fares in response. Southwest hit back with a flat $13 – promoted by full-page newspaper ads reading: "Nobody's going to shoot Southwest Airlines out of the sky for a lousy $13." In fact, business travellers on expenses were encouraged to pay $26, which qualified them for Southwest's rudimentary loyalty scheme: a bottle of whiskey or vodka.

On Thursday, battle commenced once more between the two biggest cities in Texas – with Southwest this time as the incumbent. Its challenger: Spirit Airlines, which describes itself as "arguably the best airline in the Americas". I call it America's answer to Ryanair.

Ethiopian Shows Off Dreamline

Following its landmark as the first Africa airline to operate the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the 777-200LR, Addis Ababa-based Ethiopian Airlines has achieved another milestone by becoming the first African airline to operate the Boeing 777 Freighter (Boeing 777F). The aircraft was delivered at the Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport on Thursday, September 20. Ethiopian leased its first Boeing 777F from GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) with plans to order five more of those. The airline currently operates an all-Boeing fleet of 737, 757, 767, 777, and 787 jets in passenger service and 757, MD-11, 747, and 777 freighters in cargo operations.

JAL cuts flights and share price falls

A Japan Airlines Boeing 747 plane taxis at Tokyo's Haneda Airport

HONG KONG -- Shares of Japan Airlines tumbled Friday after the airline announced it was cutting flights to China amid a dispute over islands in the East China Sea.

Monarch Flight Runs Off Birmingham Runway

Breaking News 

Birmingham Airport's runway has been shut after a plane skidded off it.

Airport officials said the Monarch flight ZB467 from Nice in France skidded off the runway shortly after 13:10 BST.

The airport said the flight had been operated by Lithuanian company Aurela Airlines. There were not thought to be any injuries.

The airport said all flights were suspended and "airfield services" were assisting the airline crew.

Inbound flights have been diverted to East Midlands Airport.

Air Malta Restructuring Go Ahead

The deal struck between pilots and Air Malta has overcome the last hurdle after a difficult restructuring exercise, according to the airline’s CEO.

Peter Davies yesterday said the four-year agreement clinched in the early hours of Saturday meant Air Malta “could now move forward”.

“It is critical that we got a deal on more efficiency and productivity that is within budget,” he said.

Dreamliner for Air India

Air India Ltd. is set to take delivery this week of its first 787 Dreamliner jet after a wait of some four years and following a long, public battle between the airlines and Boeing Co. over compensation for the delay.

The first of the aircraft could land in New Delhi Wednesday or Thursday, and two more will follow "in quick succession," an Air India executive told Dow Jones Newswires Monday.

Passenger Cash For Fuel

The crew of an Air France plane that was re-routed via Damascus on Wednesday asked passengers how much cash they could stump up after Syrian authorities refused credit card payment to refuel the aircraft, the French airline said on Thursday.

China Southern Profits Dive

China Southern Airlines, Asia’s biggest carrier by passenger numbers, said first-half profit tumbled 84 percent because of an economic slowdown, higher fuel prices and currency fluctuations. Net income fell to 449 million yuan ($70.6 million) from 2.76 billion yuan a year earlier, the Guangzhou, China-based company said in a filing to Shanghai stock exchange today. That compares with the 570 million yuan median of three analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg News.

Air Canada low cost option to launch next year.

Air Canada, after overcoming union resistance to the launch of a low-cost carrier, the troubled Canadian airline is about to start offering cheap flights to a range of holiday destinations with the low cost launch next year

New Congo Airline Faces Risks

By Jonny Hogg

KINSHASA | Mon Aug 27, 2012 9:24am EDT

Its tarmac littered with dozens of dilapidated planes, the airport in Congo's capital Kinshasa makes clear the dire state of aviation even by Africa's generally low standards.

Qantas Loss

Australian airline Qantas  has reported a $245 million annual loss,  that is £162 million, loss in profits, as the airline has been hurt by increasingly rapid rising fuel prices, a series of damaging strikes that temporarily grounded its fleet and its struggling international division.

The Australian flagship carrier's reputation has been greatly dented by recent action and accidents, including those afflicting its new airbus A380 aircraft.