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.
Vietnam is seeing a surge in airline hopefuls and an enthusiasm on the part of investors similar to what has been happening in Indonesia for the past few years. An early group of start-ups have fallen by the wayside, but there are more eager to take their place. A similar situation is emerging in South Korea as well.
Singapore’s Tiger Airways is joining the list of budget airlines that are charging for checked baggage. Passengers will be allowed 7 kg. (15 lb.) of carry-on bags, plus a handbag and laptop, but will have to pay S$5 ($3.70) for up to 15 kg. of checked luggage, rising to S$40 ($29.30) for 40 kg. (88 lb.)
Surging fuel prices are forcing even highly profitable Qantas Airways to ground some aircraft while minimizing the use of others and even canceling the delivery of one. In a range of changes to domestic services, the company is withdrawing from some routes and says it will cut staff numbers — through outright terminations if necessary. Capacity will fall by 5%, and cuts to international operations are expected to be announced within a week.
