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Russia’s federal Investigative Committee has opened a criminal probe into the serious in-flight upset incident involving an S7 Airlines Airbus A321neo. The probe will examine the actions of the crew during the 2 December service from Magadan to Novosibirsk. “During the climb, as the aircraft took off from Magadan airport, the crew noticed severe icing of the aircraft,” the Investigative Committee’s eastern interregional transport division says, adding that “speed and altitude indicators failed during the flight”. The aircraft did not return to Magadan after the event – which lasted for around 30min after the jet became airborne – but instead proceeded to head east, flying for a further 4h before landing at Irkutsk, rather than its original destination. None of the passengers and crew members was injured. Samples of de-icing fluid from Magadan airport are being sent for analysis after Russia’s federal air transport regulator Rosaviatsia ordered an investigation. Rosaviatsia says the incident is “related to the icing” of the aircraft, without elaborating. It states that mathematical modelling of the situation will be conducted, based on data from airborne and ground sources. Rosaviatsia says the quality of de-icing treatment at Magadan is to be assessed. “Selected samples of the de-icing fluid used to process the aircraft have been sent for special analysis,” it states. Story has more details.<br/>

Hong Kong is one of the world's biggest aviation hubs but also has some of the strictest coronavirus regulations in the world. Two pilots tell the BBC how these rules are affecting their mental health and putting a strain on their personal lives. "You're just in a perpetual state of quarantine." Pierre*, a pilot with the city's flagship carrier Cathay Pacific, has spent almost 150 days in isolation in this year alone, he says. Though Hong Kong has recorded barely any local coronavirus cases in recent months, the city has imposed an extensive testing and quarantine regime, in line with mainland China's zero Covid policy. Pilots are not exempted from these rules - which means they spend an exceptionally large portion of their time either working or in quarantine. These tough measures start at the airport. All international inbound travellers have to take Covid-19 tests on arrival at Hong Kong airport and quarantine even if they test negative. They need to wait for their test results - which are made available on the same day - before they can proceed with immigration procedures. "[Aircrew] have been on an aeroplane for upwards of 25 hours, sometimes closer to 30 hours if there are any delays," says Clark*, another Cathay Pacific pilot. "They have to sit on a plastic chair and can't sleep, waiting for the tests. The whole process takes about four hours from the time you've landed to the time you get home." If they test negative, they get to go home - but they're still not free. In the first three days after arriving in Hong Kong, aircrew must remain at home. They can only leave for a maximum of two hours a day, and only to get tested for Covid or for essential activities. Crew members then have to "avoid unnecessary social contact" for a further 18 days and continue daily testing.<br/>

Qantas Airways expects to reach more than 115% of pre-COVID domestic capacity levels by April as Australian state borders open, Chief Executive Alan Joyce said on Tuesday. “Domestically we are seeing huge demand when borders open,” he said at a CAPA Centre for aviation event. “We have seen a surge in 24 hours in the Queensland market alone.” Queensland on Monday brought forward the opening of its domestic borders to Dec. 13, from a previous estimate of Dec. 17. Low-cost offshoot Jetstar should reach 120% of pre-COVID domestic capacity by April, while the premium Qantas brand should reach 115%, Joyce said. He said the airline remained on track to decide by the end of the year on a preferred supplier for more than 100 planes to replace its ageing domestic fleet. In the international market, it will take far longer to recover to pre-COVID levels, though Qantas will bring back some of its A380 super-jumbo planes for flights from Sydney to London and New York from next July.<br/>

Qantas will convert two Airbus A330-200s into freighters in 2022 amid a boom in the cargo market driven by a “significant shift” towards e-commerce. The two aircraft will be converted by EFW, the Airbus-ST Engineering freighter conversion joint venture, with the first example to be inducted in August 2022, says the airline. The first converted freighter will commence operations in mid-2023, with the second to follow by end-2023. Qantas will deploy one A330-200P2F on international cargo flights, while the other will be a “new addition to the dedicated fleet” operating under Australia Post’s domestic parcel and mail business. It adds that the seat capacity from the two A330s will be replaced by “more effective scheduling” in its passenger network. “Qantas will also take delivery of three new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners during 2022,” it states. According to Cirium fleets data, Qantas has 16 in-service A330-200s, with another two in storage. The two stored jets, registered VH-EBB and VH-EBD, were delivered to the airline in 2002 and 2003, respectively.<br/>

Qantas boss Alan Joyce has said his airline is prepared to “defend our turf” and go to “war” against new market entrant Bonza. Joyce said while the airline would operate within the ACCC’s framework, it didn’t mean his business wouldn’t actively take on Australia’s newest airline. “This is the most competitive market in the world,” he said. Bonza broke cover earlier this month to reveal a plan to fly “point to point” leisure routes not serviced by Qantas, Virgin and Rex with a fleet of two to three new 737 MAXs. Joyce said, “I think the ACCC are one of the most effective competition authorities in the world. But at the same time, it doesn’t mean you can’t be competitive, of course you can. And are we going to be competitive, to defend our turf, as a war, and make sure that we offer the most competitive product and service and airfares? Of course, we are. I’m sure Bonza assumes that [given that] this is the most competitive market in the world.”<br/>