Adam Thorn

Defence said the aircraft received 3000lbs of SAF at RAAF Base East Sale in southern Victoria, as part of a joint initiative between the RAAF and Joint Capabilities Group.

Dr Naoko Sugita is an adviser to the director of the country’s Earth Observation Research Center and works closely with both NASA and the ESA.

The partnership marks the latest step in Qantas and Airbus’ wider US$200 million joint initiative launched in 2022, aimed at fast-tracking SAF production.

It comes after Virgin Orbit in 2022 unveiled a similar ambition to turn Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport into a “horizontal launch” spaceport, before the firm collapsed following the failure of its first landmark launch in the UK.

The 737, VH-VZY, departed Darwin at 3:06 pm on Sunday, 30 March, as flight QF113 and landed in Singapore at 6:03 pm local time.

In its final authorisation, the competition regulator said the new routes, operated as part of the Middle Eastern carrier’s deal to buy 25 per cent of the airline, would result in minimal public detriment.