Bradley Perrett covered China, Japan, South Korea and Australia. He is a Mandarin-speaking Australian.
Before joining Aviation Week in 2006 he was a macroeconomics, politics and aerospace journalist with Reuters. Perrett holds a bachelor’s degree in law from Macquarie University, Sydney. He left Aviation Week in 2020.
An investment by the Virgin Group has lifted confidence in the future of Australian affiliate Virgin Blue, one of three airlines in a market that has repeatedly shown it will support only two. Virgin Blue is raising A$231 million ($191 million) in additional capital with an issue of new stock. The carrier, Australia’s second largest, says the issue is a prudent move amid the global economic downturn and will put it in a position to go shopping for cheap aircraft.
Cambodia has launched a new national airline, replacing one that was forced into bankruptcy in 2001. Vietnam Airlines will hold 49% of the new carrier, Cambodia Angkor Air. The Cambodian government will own the rest. Cambodia Angkor Air is operating two ATR 72 turboprops and is due to receive an Airbus A321 in September.
Japan Airlines has retired its last Boeing 747 Classic, 39 years after introducing the type. The last unit was a 747-300. The carrier introduced its first 747 Classic, a 747-100, in 1970. It still flies 747-400s.
