Jake Nelson

VH-NPU “Meekatharra” is the second ex-Qantas F100 to be donated to HARS, following the arrival of VH-NHO at its Parkes museum earlier this year. QantasLink is phasing out its ageing F100 fleet, to be replaced with mid-life Embraer E190s.

The air show, which returned to Surfers Paradise over the weekend after its cancellation in 2025 due to beach erosion, has confirmed events for 2027 and 2028, with the Queensland government expecting the 2028 outing alone to generate more than $28 million for the state’s economy.

Replacing older A330-300 aircraft, the A330neo expansion comes as Malaysia Airlines increases from five to six flights per week as of 16 August, with daily services beginning on 25 October. The carrier reintroduced its Brisbane route late last year.

A recovery flight, QF7064, operated by VH-OQL, landed in Sydney at 5pm on Thursday after the cancellation of flight QF64 on Monday 10 August, sparked by problems with the nosewheel on VH-OQB (pictured) that required further maintenance.

The plan, which forecasts more than 72 million passengers through the airport per year by 2045, includes a proposed redevelopment of the domestic precinct to link terminals 2 and 3, with space also added for international flights.

At a press conference in Canberra, Sharp told reporters that the tower controllers were experienced ATCs undergoing an endorsement process, and said Airservices had not believed the incident met the threshold for its mandatory reporting requirements.