Hannah Dowling

Bathurst Regional Council has selected Newcastle-based regional carrier FlyPelican to replace Rex Airlines in offering new direct flights between Sydney and Bathurst.

The Transport Workers’ Union has shared its concerns over Qantas’ recent plan to deploy its senior management staff to the tarmac to assist baggage handlers, citing safety concerns.

It marks a 25-year slash on its previous target, as the industry bands together towards a carbon neutral future by 2050, as announced by the International Air Transport Association in 2021.

Qantas has reportedly called on its upper management and executives to roll up their sleeves and work as baggage handlers under a three-month “contingency program” to battle staff shortages and flight disruption.

An air traffic controller alerted a Qantas pilot to a possible engine fire prior to takeoff on Sunday, after a witness reported seeing “some kind of flame” coming from one of its engines.

A Citibank investment advisor has downgraded its assessment of Qantas stocks from ‘neutral’ to ‘sell’, as the airline continues to battle scrutiny over poor customer service, increasing flight disruptions, and staff shortages.