Jake Nelson

VH-VHD “Snowbird 1”, operated by Skytraders, responded to an “urgent request for assistance” at US-operated McMurdo Station late last month, taking advantage of a “narrow weather window” to perform the evacuation to New Zealand.

Around 650 staff members at Qantas Ground Services (QGS), who serve mostly Qantas Freight and QantasLink operations, will vote on whether to take industrial action over what the union has called “Joyce-era tactics to relentlessly pursue short-term profits over worker and passenger standards”.

Announced today by Transport Minister Catherine King at the 2026 Australian Aviation Summit, the draft standards – developed through consultation with people with disabilities and with the industry – builds on a commitment from the 2024 Aviation White Paper.

Numbers climbed by more than 1 million, or 4 per cent, on the previous financial year, with more than 7 million international passengers – up 7.9 per cent – and 18 million domestic passengers, up 2.5 per cent.

Starting 2 February 2027, the 7kg limit for cabin baggage will be removed, with passengers instead allowed a single underseat bag of up to 40 × 30 × 20cm, and larger carry-on bags in overhead bins – along with priority boarding – available for separate purchase.

Responding to reports in The Australian Financial Review that it was working with consultancy firm Accenture on the plan dubbed “Project iQ”, a spokesperson for the Flying Kangaroo said discussions were still in early stages and no firm decisions had been made.