Year: 2023

VH-EBE, named Kangaroo Valley, flew its last commercial passenger flight in February this year before heading to Dresden in Germany for its upgrade to become a P2F (passenger to freighter).

CEO Tim Jordan said the firm made the “difficult decision” – days before it was due to start – because launching operations next month would put a “strain on our current capacity”.

The airline is the first in Australia to operate so-called “point-to-point” leisure services that skip out major cities and allow consumers to fly directly from holiday destination to holiday destination.

Just 25 departures on Christmas Day were cancelled at Sydney Airport despite severe flooding to the domestic runway apron and terminal.

The Honourable Company of Air Pilots hailed the training organisation’s “zero-accident record” to grant it the prestigious Grand Master’s Australian Medal.

Sydney has forecast 2.6 million passengers through its terminals over the three weeks from 14 December to 3 January, while Melbourne is expecting more than 4.2 million between 20 December and 29 January, and Brisbane is tipping 3.7 million between 1 December and 28 January.