Gregory Polek has spent his entire career in aviation journalism with AIN, starting as a proofreader and assistant to then-managing editor Mary Mahoney in 1995 after serving an internship with&nbsp;New Jersey Monthly&nbsp;magazine and completing his B.A. degree in English/Writing at New Jersey’s William Paterson College. By 1997 Polek accepted a position as an associate editor, covering the regional airline beat for&nbsp;Aviation International News&nbsp;in place of retiring industry veteran Don Anderson. The assignment took Polek across North America and Europe to profile regional airlines varying in size and mission from the likes of floatplane operators Kenmore Air and Chalk’s Ocean Airways to regional jet operators such as SkyWest and American Eagle. Today, in his dual role as Air Transport Editor and International Airshow Editor, Polek writes, edits, and manages AIN’s commercial aviation content while overseeing each of the company’s daily international air show publications in Paris, Farnborough, Singapore, and Dubai. Most recently Polek has assumed oversight of daily coverage of the Helicopter Association International’s annual Heli-Expo convention.

Senior Editor

Gregory Polek

Australian flag carrier Qantas expects its A$2 billion ($1.66 billion) “Qantas Transformation” cost-cutting plan and lower fuel prices to result in a profit of between A$300 million ($250 million) and A$350 million ($291 million) during the first six months of its 2015 fiscal year, the company said in a statement issued on Sunday. Fuel price declines will contribute some A$30 million ($25 million) to the company’s gains, it added.

 


Qantas announces its first half results for its 2015 financial year on February 26.

 


The company reported that the so-called transformation plan, implemented roughly a year ago, has already resulted in A$204 million of benefits in the second half of 2014, and that the program has either met or exceeded all its targets.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

 


“Today we confirm that Qantas is set to report its best first-half result since 2010,” said Qantas CEO Alan Joyce. “This demonstrates that the strategy we have outlined to transform our business is working. This is an improvement of over $550 million compared with the first half last year, with Qantas Transformation being the primary driver of the turnaround.

 


“Qantas is 12 months into a three-and-a-half year program, but these strong early results give us the confidence that we will continue to meet all the targets we have set. We are committed to completing the full $2 billion program to ensure a sustainable, competitive position for the long term.”

 


On August 28 announcing a record loss of A$2.8 billion for 2014, Qantas said at the time the airline had “come through the worst” after announcing plans to furlough 5,000 employees and take a significant write-down in the valuation of its fleet due to early aircraft retirements. The plan calls for either the retirement or delivery deferral of 50 airplanes.

 


The carrier has since begun retiring its Boeing 747s, replacing them in some cases with Airbus A330s, while also delivering new 787-8s to its low-fare Jetstar subsidiary to allow the transfer of other A330s to Qantas domestic&nbsp;services.

 


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News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

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News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

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Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

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