Jake Nelson

In a valedictory post on LinkedIn, Hrdlicka, who first announced her departure more than a year ago, noted the carrier’s achievements since COVID-19. She is due to step down as CEO on 14 March, though she will help support the transition for the next few months.

Comprising $8 million in government funding, matched by funding from WSI, the Western Sydney International Take-Off Fund comes as tickets are slated to go on sale for flights to and from the airport later this year ahead of its scheduled opening in late 2026.

Described by the government as a “missing link” on Sydney’s rail network, the future corridor would connect Bradfield – and, by extension, Western Sydney Airport – with Leppington in the city’s southwest, providing an alternative to the northbound metro line which will terminate at St Marys.

The major renovations, announced in November, will be the first to T2 in more than 30 years and will include overhauls to check-in, bag drop, and security areas, with the aim of getting passengers from kerb to gate within 15 minutes. Construction is slated to begin on 1 May.

The 22-week project, announced last July, saw 4,870 engineered materials arresting system (EMAS) blocks installed at Queenstown, increasing its effective runway end safety area from 90 to 240 metres.

The proposed charter, which was introduced in December, had been flagged as part of the Aviation White Paper released in August. While Choice said it is a “welcome next step”, the organisation criticised it for being too vague and said it is not strong enough for its intended purpose.