Jake Nelson

The budget this month has pledged $66.5 million over four years from 2026–27 to “support [CASA] to continue its critical safety and regulatory functions”, and noted that “annual VH aircraft registrations [will] be introduced to improve regulatory compliance and safety outcomes”.

The airline says it will cut check-in time by up to 50 per cent with the upgrades, which include changing its airport check-in kiosks to bag tag printers and encouraging guests to check in online or via the Virgin Australia app.

Spence, who has held the position for five years, will be joined by Greg Hughes as a new appointment to the board of the aviation safety regulator. It comes as the federal government has pledged more than $65 million to CASA over the next four years.

In its Australian Aviation Network Overview report for April 2026, Airservices Australia revealed Australia saw 2,475 daily average passenger flights last month, up just 0.2 per cent on the previous year, with domestic regional flights dropping by 4.1 per cent.

In the 2026 Budget, announced this week, $38.1 million over four years from 2026–27 and $7.3 million per year ongoing was earmarked for the government’s consumer protection priorities, as well as $4.5 million over four years to continue the ACCC’s domestic airline monitoring program.

From January next year, the tax, which is applied to all airfares and cruise tickets leaving the country, will increase from $70 to $80 in what Tourism and Transport Forum chief executive Margy Osmond has labelled “an absolute shocker for the tourism industry”.