Adam Thorn

A Cessna 208B Caravan pilot fell asleep mid-air for 40 minutes due to “inadequate sleep the night before” and hypoxia triggered by the aircraft’s oxygen system.

The development is possible because the business will soon extend its service beyond residential homes to include commercial business locations in a dozen suburbs – up from just three currently.

Rex’ deputy chairman John Sharp was speaking on the latest episode of the Australian Aviation podcast where he was discussing his airline’s high-profile falling out with Qantas.

The 25-year-old male pilot was onboard with a 28-year-old female passenger and a one-year-old child, and all escaped without injury.

The country’s minister in charge of responding to the virus said the decision was a “close call” but the correct one given many unknowns about the outbreak remain.

Australian aviation’s new capacity wars show no sign of relenting after Qantas said it would rival Virgin on three new routes its reborn competitor only announced last week.