AviationWA

AirAsia X resumes Kuala Lumpur – Perth services

9M-XXQ Airbus A330-343X of AirAsia X, over the northern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia - 4 November 2022. **Resumption of scheduled passenger services from Kuala Lumpur by AirAsia X** The previous regular scheduled passenger service by AirAsia X was on 20 March 2020, when they ceased due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic (though three freight services were operated in January 2021). Flight D7 236 from Kuala Lumpur seen here heading east to approach Perth Airport's runway 21 at 7:38am. Photo © David Eyre

Airline Services

AirAsia X resumes Kuala Lumpur – Perth services

David Eyre 4 November 2022

AirAsia X today resumed scheduled passenger services between Kuala Lumpur and Perth, with Airbus A330-300 9M-XXQ operating flight D7236 from Kuala Lumpur this morning, returning as D7 237. The...

3B-NBU Airbus A330-941neo of Air Mauritius, named 'Aapravasi Ghat', over the northern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia – 20 November 2022. Flight MK440 from Mauritius, heading northeast to join the approach to Perth Airport's runway 21 at 8:53am. Photo © David Eyre.

Air Mauritius resumes Mauritius – Perth services

David Eyre 2 November 2022

Air Mauritius today (2 November 2022) resumed services from Mauritius, with Airbus A330-900neo 3B-NBU operating flight MK440 / MK441. The airline had operated twice per week between Perth and...

A6-EEO Airbus A380-861 of Emirates at Perth Airport, Western Australia – 1 November 2022. Landing on runway 21 as flight EK420 from Dubai at 5:09pm. Photo © David Eyre.

Emirates resumes A380 on Dubai – Perth services

David Eyre 1 November 2022

Emirates today (1 November 2022) switched back to the Airbus A380 on the EK420 / EK421 Dubai – Perth services, upgrading from the previous Boeing 777-300ER. Emirates A380-861 A6-EEO...

Artist impression of the Leonardo AW139 rescue helicopter over Perth. Image courtesy of CHC - Dietmar Rabich.

WA Aviation News

Leonardo AW139 to replace Bell 412EP Emergency Rescue Helicopters

David Eyre 1 June 2022

Rome, 01 June 2022: Leonardo announced that CHC Australia has ordered three new Leonardo AW139 helicopters, under contract to the State of Western Australia, for Western Australia’s Emergency Rescue...

Artist impression of the new $10 million heliport at Royal Perth Hospital (RPH).

New $10 million heliport for Royal Perth Hospital

David Eyre 26 May 2022

Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson and Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson today opened Royal Perth Hospital’s (RPH) new 788 square metre $10 million heliport. The new heliport will allow the...

A6-ENV Boeing 777-31HER (MSN 41368/1243) of Emirates at Perth Airport, Western Australia - 17 August 2021. Flight EK2668 (freight flight) from Dubai, landing on runway 03. Photo © David Eyre.

Airline Services

Airline services to Perth resuming after WA border opening

David Eyre 8 March 2022

8 March 2022 David Eyre Western Australia’s COVID-19 border closure was lifted at 12:01am on 3 March 2022, with the arrival of the first domestic flight, Qantas flight QF653...

VH-VGP Airbus A320-232 (MSN 4343) of Jetstar, at Perth Airport - 16 March 2018. Photo © David Eyre. VH-VGP is parked at bay 150A at 6:21am. It departed as flight JQ110 to Denpasar (Bali), at 7:21am. Behind are: B-LAQ Airbus A330-343 (MSN 1349) of Cathay Pacific, arriving at Bay 151 as CX133 from Hong Kong. PK-GPV Airbus A330-343X (MSN 1577) of Garuda Indonesia, parked at Bay 153 - it departed later as flight GA727 to Denpasar (Bali). 9V-SSB Airbus A330-343X (MSN 1517) of Singapore Airlines, parked at bay 154, it departed as flight SQ224 to Singapore. 9M-XXJ Airbus A330-343X (MSN 1423) of AirAsia X, parked at Bay 155, prior to departing as D7 237 to Kuala Lumpur. PK-LBG Boeing 737-9GPER (MSN 38688/4414) of Batik Air Indonesia, parked at Bay 156, prior to departing as flight ID6008 to Denpasar (Bali).

Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic: Impacts on foreign airlines operating to Western Australia

David Eyre 15 January 2022

14 January 2022 © David Eyre NOTE: If you note any errors or missing information, please let us know using the comments. Travel restrictions/bans imposed On 1 February 2020,...

VH-LWO Pilatus PC-12/47E (MSN 1935) registered to Pilatus Flugzeugwerke, at Stans, Switzerland - 5 January 2021. Awaiting delivery to the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Western Operations), based at Jandakot Airport, Western Australia. It was initially registered HB-FXU to Pilatus on 16 December 2019, built for another customer who seems not to have taken delivery. Instead registered VH-LWO on 23 December 2020. Photo © Stephan Widmer (with permission)

Royal Flying Doctor Service Western Operations to take delivery of PC-12NG VH-LWO

David Eyre 7 January 2021

7 January 2021 (UPDATED 5 February 2021) © David Eyre (Photos © Stephan Widmer – with thanks) Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Western Operations took delivery of its final...

Airline Services

Rex prepares to compete with Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin; first Boeing 737-800 delivered

David Eyre 6 January 2021

6 January 2021 © David Eyre Rex (Regional Express Airlines) announced in May 2020 that it intended to compete with Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia by leasing 10 narrow-body jets...

VH-EBC Airbus A330-203 (MSN 506) of Qantas, named 'Surfers Paradise', at Perth Airport – 22 November 2019. Flight QF409 to Melbourne, preparing for departure from bay 12, Terminal 4, at 5:23am. Photo © David Eyre.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic: Impacts on Qantas Group

David Eyre 6 January 2021

6 January 2021 © David Eyre Delayed delivery of Boeing 787s and A321neos; Airbus A380 fleet stored for three years In May 2020, Qantas announced it would delay delivery...

VH-XFC (MSN 1293) named 'Mooloolabah Beach' and VH-XFD (MSN 1306) named 'Bells Beach', Airbus A330-243 of Virgin Australia, at Perth Airport – 5 December 2018. VH-XFD is pushing back for departure as VA556 to Sydney at 10:38am. Photo © David Eyre.

Virgin Australia and Tigerair: a difficult 2020

David Eyre 1 January 2021

1 January 2021 © David Eyre Virgin Australia suffered the most challenging year in its history during 2020, starting with financial losses, travel bans during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic,...

Terminal 1 International and control tower at Perth Airport – 25 October 2019. ZS-SXG Airbus A340-313X (MSN 378) of South African Airways, parked at bay 153 after arriving as SA280 from Johannesburg. Photo © David Eyre.

Airports

Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic: impact on Perth Airport

David Eyre 30 December 2020

30 December 2020 © David Eyre COVID-19 travel restrictions/bans: 1 February 2020: Australian Government imposed a travel ban on anyone arriving from, or transiting through, mainland China, unless they...

N154AC Sikorsky S-64E Skycrane (MSN 64-037), named ‘Georgia Peach’, of Erickson Air-Crane over Jervoise Bay– 22 December 2016..

Firefighting aircraft in Western Australia 2020 – 2021

David Eyre 30 December 2020

David Eyre and Brenden Scott have compiled a list and photos of the fire fighting aircraft in Western Australia for the summer fire season (Oct 2020 – April 2021)....

VH-BFW Grob G-115C2 (MSN 82042/C2) owned by China Southern West Australian Flying College, at Jandakot Airport - 5 June 2020. Photo © David Eyre.

China Southern West Australian Flying College enters liquidation

David Eyre 21 December 2020

21 December 2020 © David Eyre China Southern West Australian Flying College (CSWAFC) has entered voluntary liquidation today (21 December 2020), with 62 staff losing their jobs. Their Grob...