Jake Nelson

Sydney in April was the first Australian city and second destination outside of Hong Kong to see the new cabin product, with Melbourne now also being served by the refurbished aircraft on daily CX104 and CX105 services as of 3 August.

As part of the Security Management Systems certification process, IATA visited the airport on-site in June, and conducted a full audit of its approach to aviation security, with Brisbane being certified at the highest level of entry.

In an event hosted by the Australian War Memorial late last month, the now-grown passengers of Australian aircraft that carried them as orphaned babies from South Vietnam in April 1975 met the pilots and crew who operated the flights for a commemoration ceremony.

The pilot in his early 70s and his female passenger in her 60s departed George Town Airport in Tasmania at around 12:45pm bound for Hillston in central western NSW via Leongatha, with the alarm raised at around 5pm that evening after they failed to arrive.

The flights, operating three times per week on A320neo aircraft, commenced on Friday evening and will add more than 58,000 seats on the route per year. It comes as the carrier stations two A320neos on the Gold Coast, bringing the local fleet to six of the aircraft type.

Sources said to be “familiar with the discussions” told The Australian that the office of Transport Minister Catherine King had lobbied Virgin to take over the stricken carrier earlier this year, but found no success. It comes as Rex marks one year of its voluntary administration.