Downer Group has been awarded the project to strengthen and upgrade the runways, taxiways and aprons, as well as improve airfield lighting and drainage and deliver Civil Aviation Safety Authority compliance upgrades.

A local snake catcher, Rex Neindorf, told NT News he has attended Alice Springs Airport several times in recent weeks to remove both “mildly” and “highly venomous” snakes from the check-in area, departure doors and Qantas lounge.

Operated by 16th Aviation Brigade, the exercise served as an opportunity for crew to test the handling of the utility helicopter in the high-altitude and highly dense mountain ranges of PNG, which Defence dubbed one of the region’s “most challenging aviation environments”.

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The upgraded check-in area includes 18 automated kiosks, 10 bag drop units, and a dedicated oversized baggage drop, all provided by Elenium Automation. It comes after the airport last week opened its new arrivals area and baggage claim.

Speaking at The Australian Financial Review Energy and Climate Summit on Wednesday, Qantas chief sustainability officer Fiona Messent told audiences that Qantas customers wanted to see a local SAF industry and were willing to pay a small premium to support it.

Disability advocate Shane Hryhorec was offloaded from a Virgin flight in August after cabin crew mistook his wheelchair’s SmartDrive power assist for a battery, with the airline later apologising when Hryhorec posted a video of his experience.

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