China Southern is asking for more government funding after reporting a loss that exceeded its last batch of state support. After burning capital with a 4.8 billion yuan net loss for 2008, the airline, China’s largest, is not specifying how much it wants from Beijing, but says the more it gets, the better. Typical of the industry, China Southern managed some business growth last year — passenger numbers were up 2.3% — but a modest rise in domestic demand was not enough to support profits in the face of international weakness.

Vietnam Airlines has won government authorization to buy 10 Airbus A321s. The state-owned airline, already an A321 operator, will also be allowed to join the SkyTeam airline alliance.

Qantas Airways, announcing up to 1,750 job losses, aircraft delivery deferrals and a capacity cut, has finally joined the ranks of airlines losing money amid the global recession. The Australian carrier, which as recently as February still expected to make money in its current financial half-year, says it has deferred delivery of four Airbus A380s and 12 Boeing 737-800s and is negotiating for the delayed arrival of 15 Boeing 787s, among 65 it has ordered. The A380s will be deferred by 10 to 12 months and the 737s by an average of 14 months.