News & Discussion: Adelaide Airport & Airlines

[rogue]

Qatar aren't the only ones flying around empty planes.

Virgin ‘ghost flights’ keep airline on time

Virgin Australia has resorted to ‘ghost flights’ to ensure passengers are not left stranded in the event of crew illness or aircraft issues.

Robyn Ironside
Aviation Writer

October 5, 2022 - 6:28PM
The Australian Business Network

Virgin Australia pilots are being rostered on so-called ghost flights as the airline goes to extraordinary lengths to improve its on-time performance.

Called “dark flights” on the roster, they involve pilots flying aeroplanes with no passengers to particular destinations to ensure crew and aircraft are on hand in the event of illness or engineering issues.

They are different to standby flights, where crew are called in to fly a scheduled service carrying passengers, but no one could explain why they were called dark flights.

Virgin Australia confirmed the practice had been adopted during the September school holidays to avoid a repeat of the June-July holiday debacle, in which hundreds of flights were cancelled and many delayed due to sickness among crew.

Pilots said there were about 14 “dark flights” rostered a week, and they were paid regardless of whether the ghost services went ahead or not.

A Virgin Australia spokeswoman said the practice was helping the airline provide great travel experiences for guests.

“This includes building additional flexibility into our operations during peak travel periods including the September school holidays to improve guest recovery options where disruption may occur,” she said.

Pilots were not enamoured with the ghost flights, which often meant long days of waiting around airports. “I don’t think that it’s a practice we would want to see continue,” said a pilot who did not want to be named.

“I’m sure other operators will have questions about (airport) slot compliance.”

The move followed record lows in on-time performance in July that saw only half of all Virgin Australia flights take off on time, and 52.5 per cent land within 15 minutes of schedule.

As well, 7.7 per cent of flights, or 914 services were cancelled in the month as the airline struggled with unprecedented levels of staff absenteeism from illness.

There was significant improvement in August with close to 70 per cent of services arriving on time; with the aid of dark flights, the airline expects to lead its nearest competitors in on-time performance in September.

[Cryptic]

As a part of the premier's trip to Japan for investment in South Australian hydrogen, he is meeting with Japan Airlines to seek direct flights to Tokyo.

[Ho Really]

...he is meeting with Japan Airlines to seek direct flights to Tokyo.

Japan Airlines is JAL or you mean Japanese airlines in general that will include ANA?

Cheers

[Cryptic]

...he is meeting with Japan Airlines to seek direct flights to Tokyo.

Japan Airlines is JAL or you mean Japanese airlines in general that will include ANA?

Cheers

IIRC the article specifically mentioned Japan Airlines

[Cryptic]

...he is meeting with Japan Airlines to seek direct flights to Tokyo.

Japan Airlines is JAL or you mean Japanese airlines in general that will include ANA?

Cheers

[rev]

Hopefully we soon see JAL flying to/from Adelaide. Would be good for our exports.

[Ho Really]

Would be good to know who initiated this meeting, whether the premier was invited by JAL or he had a preference for them over ANA. Preferably what we should've heard from the premier is that he talked to both. If it is only freight then NCA (Nippon Cargo Airlines) should have also been included.

Cheers

[rev]

Would be good to know who initiated this meeting, whether the premier was invited by JAL or he had a preference for them over ANA. Preferably what we should've heard from the premier is that he talked to both. If it is only freight then NCA (Nippon Cargo Airlines) should have also been included.

Cheers

I have a feeling Don Farrell had something to do with it.
https://www.afr.com/world/asia/australi ... 011-p5bova

[Smithy84]

Qatar back to daily flights (from 5 per week) from Jan 2023.

[rev]

The airport has won a couple new awards.

https://glamadelaide.com.au/adelaide-ai ... -the-year/

Adelaide Airport named Capital City Airport of the Year

By Rebecca Wilson
Posted on November 17, 2022

Adelaide Airport has won the Capital City Airport of the Year award at the Australian Airports Association National Airport Industry Awards, held in Adelaide last night.

It was one of two major awards won by Adelaide Airport at the gala awards dinner held at the Adelaide Convention Centre. The airport also picked up the Infrastructure Award for its $200m terminal expansion project, which was completed on time and on budget at the end of 2021 and despite the impacts of COVID.

Adelaide Airport Managing Director, Brenton Cox, said the awards were deserved recognition for the airport’s management through COVID and for completion of the terminal expansion project that has seen a significant expansion of the airport’s international departures and arrivals areas and 80 per cent more retail space.

“We’re delighted to receive this recognition from our peers,” Mr Cox said.

“We know all airports have been doing it tough over the past three years, but I’m immensely proud of our team who have both managed the extraordinary challenges of COVID but also still managed to complete our biggest infrastructure project since 2005 when the current terminal was first opened.

“It’s also recognition for our external partners involved in the terminal expansion project as well as helping us keep our airport ‘airworthy’ when aviation ground to a halt in 2020.”

Mr Cox also paid tribute to former Adelaide Airport Managing Director Mark Young, who received the rare honour of a lifetime achievement award for his services to the airport sector over more than 20 years.

“Our success at these awards, and all of our achievements over the past two decades, would not have been possible without Mark’s drive and vision,” Mr Cox said.

“I recall that Mark’s last day as Managing Director also marked practical completion of our terminal expansion project, so it’s fitting that both Adelaide Airport and Mark have been honoured together at last night’s event.”

[Simmos083]

Now we are in 2023 what are our thoughts on what 2023 will provide Adelaide Airport? New routes? Increased capacity or terminal improvements?

[ChillyPhilly]

Now we are in 2023 what are our thoughts on what 2023 will provide Adelaide Airport? New routes? Increased capacity or terminal improvements?

Hopefully some restored international routes (e.g. Emirates to Dubai), sufficient security staffing, and a tram from the CBD down Henley Beach Road to just outside the terminal.

[PeFe]

.....and a tram from the CBD down Henley Beach Road to just outside the terminal.

That would be 2033.....if we're lucky !

[Brucetiki]

Visited the Vickers Vimy display last week.

While it is far more accessible than its former site, and the exhibit itself is outstanding, I was surprised to see it somewhat still hidden away from the main terminal.

[SRW]

Visited the Vickers Vimy display last week.

While it is far more accessible than its former site, and the exhibit itself is outstanding, I was surprised to see it somewhat still hidden away from the main terminal.

I haven't yet seen its new location, but I assumed it would accessible from within the main terminal? As an attraction for people actually in the airport?