Security 'breach' causes delays at BNE

There were some delays for International terminal passengers this morning when a bag containing a pair of scissors was discovered by the screening staff, yet its owner could not be located at the screening point.

All passengers in the terminal were required to leave and then be re-screened, before being allowed to return.  Brisbane Airport reported they were prioritising passengers on flights due to board.

This caused the usual raft of tweets, facebook posts etc from media organisations keen for a story

Read the brisbanetimes.com.au article HERE

Qantas hit all the 30's

Qantas have hit all the 30's with their announcement today of the A330 interior upgrade program to occur in Brisbane in the new $30 million dollar hangar while recruiting 30 new apprentice engineers. With each aircraft expected to be in the hangar for 30 days.

Qantas today announced its fleet of 30 Airbus A330 aircraft will have new cabin interiors installed at its Brisbane heavy maintenance and engineering facility.Qantas also announced it is recruiting 30 apprentice engineers, with the majority to be based in Brisbane.Qantas Group Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce, who was in Brisbane to officially open the $30 million upgrade to the hangar, said today’s announcements further cements Qantas' commitment to engineering and maintenance in Australia.

 This is good news for Brisbane and means spotters will get to see all 10 A333's and 20 A332's from late 2014 through to 2016

Read the full Qantas release HERE

BAC & VA reach agreement

Brisbane Airport and Virgin Australia have reached agreement to "enhance customer experience at Brisbane Airport"  I picked up the news when BAC tweeted out the announcement this morning.

The agreement includes:

• A series of major upgrades to the Virgin Australia-leased area at the Domestic Terminal including an expanded Virgin Australia lounge, new gate lounges to support the growing ATR Turboprop operations, expanded terminal seating areas and additional aerobridge gates for wide-bodied Airbus A330 aircraft;
• Ongoing runway access for the next 10 years and support for the development of the new parallel runway;
• The sale and lease-back of the Virgin Australia hangar at Brisbane Airport.

 Towards the bottom of the BAC announcement you see that the 10 year runway system agreement "provides certainty to the ongoing development of infrastructure at Brisbane Airport" which to me suggests Virgin have accepted the user pre-pay option for the second runway which has been a big sticking point with airlines until now.  I also suspect that this will add some additional cost to tickets as Virgin pass on this cost to travelers.

The end of the BAC announcement also says the sale and lease back of the Virgin hangar will occur this financial year - i.e. before June 30th.

I cannot yet find a press release on the Virgin Australia site

YBBN spotting pt2

Some more of the pics I like from my spotting trip on tuesday

I'm kicking off today with an international flavour

Etihad Airways Airbus A330-243 A6-EYF departing YBBN for Abu Dhabi via Singapore

Air Niugini Boeing 767-336 P2-ANA as ANG4 departing YBBN for Port Moresby

Thai Airways Boeing 777-3D7ER HS-TKC departing YBBN as TK474 to Bangkok

Now moving back to an Australian focus

Tiger Airways (Australia) Airbus A320 VH-VNB departing YBBN as TT435 to Melbourne

 I'm not sure what it is about the TT birds, but I find them amazingly photogenic

Jetstar Airbus A321 looking gorgeously golden int he late afternoon sun, while also looking equally patchy is seen departing YBBN as JQ817 to Sydney

Alliance Airlines Fokker F100 VH-XWM is seen departing YBBN as UTY2366 to Rockhampton

And finally Qantas Boeing 767-336 VH-ZXF is seen departing YBBN as QF537 to Sydney

YBBN Spotting

I recently had the opportunity to spend an afternoon out spotting at Brisbane (YBBN/BNE) and here are the first fruits of that spotting trip.

Vincent Aviation currently have their BAe 146-200 ZK-ECO in Brisbane, its seen here operating as VIN810 to RMA

Virgin Australia are well represented at their home base - here we see Virgin Australia/Skywest ATR 72-500 VH-FVL operating as VA667A to Moranbah (MOV)

Seen departing for Newcastle (NTL) as VA1106 is Boeing 737-8FE VH-VOQ

The final Virgin bird in this post is another Boeing this time B737-8BK VH-VUM departing for SYD as VA954

Qantas Boeing 737-838 VH-VXO wears special Share the Spirit titles and is seen here departing for Townsville (TSV) as QF974

And just to prove that no matter how well you frame a shot and prepare - often nature intervenes and something photobombs you (Q400 VH-QOJ)

This has to be my favourite photo of the ones I have edited so far, its Tiger Airways A320 VH-VNF rotating off 01 bound for SYD as TT802