The Week in Brief 24 November 2011

Indonesia's Lion Air has just placed the largest aircraft order in Boeing's history, with a commitment ot 230 B737s (201 of which will be the upcoming MAX) plus purchase rights for another 150 airliners.

Today's the day... Sydney Airport becomes the official name for the company, with the old MAP disappearing from the ASX and being replaced by SYD.

CampaignAsia reports that Qantas has seven ad agencies on a shortlist to handle the majority of its creative and media accounts; with its current agencies, M&C Saatchi and Ogilvy Australia out of the big picture. The airline's Rob Gurney said the decisions will all be made in time for the new agencies to start work on the brand in April. Sounds like a bit of challenge the way the brand is looking right now.

Airbus has debuted its sharklet wing tip-equipped A320, noting that the fuel-saving technology will be an option on new aircraft and standard on the upcoming A320neo. The manufacturer says fuel burn will be reduced by up to 3.5 per cent on longer sectors.

The Australian Airports Association 2012 Convention will be held in Melbourne on 13-14 November, followed by the two-day Technical Workshop on the 15th and 16th.

Air Australia (formerly Strategic) has asked the IASC for four flights a week from Australia to Vietnam, with an initial service to start in March next year.

The Australian Federal Court has fined Korean Air Lines A$5.5 million for its involvement in a cargo cartel that involved some of the biggest names in the air freight business in Asia. Proceedings continue against SIA, Cathay, Emirates, ANZ, Malaysian and Thai.

Boeing has approved John Holland Aviation Services at Melbourne Airport as a supplier of integrated maintenance solutions for the B737NG and B787 under its GoldCare program.

IATA reckons the aviation industry will have paid US$176 billion for fuel by the end of this year; and that in 2012 the fuel bill will total $201 billion. But that latter number is based on $100 a barrel and there has to be some doubt about holding that.