The week in brief 150410

A Unisys survey, the results of which were released this week, shows that most Australians are more than willing to submit to body scans and biometric ID in the interests of better aviation security. Seventy per cent of respondents to the survey said they were willing to have full body scans at airports, while 77 per cent were OK with providing personal data in advance of travel and 68 per cent would provide biometric data such as iris scans and fingerprints.

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad has reported more than 25 per cent growth in RPKs for the first quarter of the year. On the carrier's Australian routes, load factors are holding at more than 80 per cent in the Y cabin and more than 66 per cent in the J cabin. That performance compares with an overall 74 per cent for the airline in 2009. 

Malaysia Airlines is the 13th cargo carrier to come under fire from Australia's ACCC for alleged price fixing. The ACCC is heading into court with the allegations on 22 April, having already successfully challenged Qantas amongst others, resulting in penalties of more than A$40 million to date. Proceedings against Singapore Airlines, Cathay, Garuda, Thai and KAL are continuing.

Sunshine Coast Airport has launched a feasibility study in relation to a proposed new runway, to support increased Jetstar and Tiger traffic and to encourage further growth. Airport GM Peter Pallot says the preliminary studies will take around six months.

CANSO has moved its Asia Pacific ANSP Conference from April to July to hopefully avoid the political unrest in Thailand. The event will now be held at the Hilton Hua Hin on 18-20 July. Given the delay, new registrations are being accepted (www.canso.org/asiapacificconference)

Despite all its woes, Japan Airlines has found one ray of sunshine, being declared the most punctual airline on the globe for 2009. Apparently more than 90 per cent of JAL's scheduled flights for the year arrived on time. But then again, maybe punctuality is a by-product of a high cost base.

Travel Daily reports that a Swedish pilot who flew commercial jets around Europe for more than 10 years without a licence has been fined just €2000. Forty-one-year-old Thomas Salme was convicted of flying without a licence, but the judge rejected a bigger fine on forgery charges with a prosecutor praising Salme’s aviation skills, saying “he flew for 13 years without any incidents”.