Air NZ fined $16 Million by the Federal Court of Australia

National carrier Air New Zealand has been fined NZD16 million for its involvement in a price fixing scheme.

Last month the Federal Court of Australia found that, between 2002 and 2007, Air New Zealand and 14 other airlines had agreed on fixing the price of fuel and insurance on freight services from Hong Kong and Singapore to different locations, including Australian airports.

The Court ordered Air New Zealand to pay a fine of NZD16 million for their involvement in the price fixing scheme.

The 15 airlines were fined AUD113.5m in total, with Air New Zealand having the second largest fine behind Qantas’ AUD20M.

Stuff reported that Air New Zealand along with Qantas, Emirates, British Airways and Cathay Pacific were prosecuted in 2006 by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for their involvement in a ‘cargo cartel’ fixing scheme.

For the full story, visit HERE.

Carbon neutral flight on the radar for Cathay Pacific

In line with an increased consumer demand for carbon neutral transport, Cathay Pacific has placed an order for 20 ‘part biofuel’ aircraft that will enter service in the next four years.

These aircraft will be used on Cathay’s long-haul flights, including those out of Auckland and Christchurch.

Reducing the impact of greenhouse gas emissions is the driving force behind Cathay Pacific’s new biofuel powered long haul flights. Last month the airline launched its first ‘part biofuel’ flight from France to Hong Kong. The Airbus A350-1000 was powered by a blend of 10 per cent biofuel with traditional jet fuel.

“Achieving carbon neutral growth from 2020 is an important target that we take seriously, and using alternative fuels is one of the key strategies in helping us to do so,” said Cathy Pacific chief executive, Rupert Hogg.

“We will continue to support the development and usage of biofuel to reach mainstream commercial viability.”

The airline uses a combination of sugar-cane biofuel, used in cars for decades, and also municipal waste alternative fuels.

The New Zealand Herald reported that using biofuel can reduce life cycle greenhouse emissions up to 80 per cent when compared with traditional jet fuel.

For the full story, visit HERE.

Auckland in the running for Uber Air trials

Auckland, Sydney and Melbourne are to be considered for an air trial by Uber, the company behind the global ‘industry disruptor’ ride sharing service. Subsidiary Uber Air is currently selecting cities to trial a drone-like ‘air taxi’ service.

Uber Air is currently working with Boeing to design air taxis and hope that they will be able to trial the flights in 2020, with a proposed official launch in 2023.

Uber Head of Product, Advance Programmes and Elevate, Nikil Goel, said that Uber would meet with aviation and government officials to discuss their plans and seek potential support.

The company is looking to develop landing and take-off pads called “skyports”, which would be located on building roofs or next to transportation hubs.

Uber “air-pooling” will cost around $12 per 1.6 kilometres flown, which is around half the cost of flying in a helicopter. The company aims to eventually have the prices the same as their premium UberX feature.

Stuff reported that Uber Air is aiming to announce its third trial city, one in Australasia, by the end of the year.

Dallas and Los Angeles have already been selected for the trial.

For the full story, visit HERE.