Jake Nelson

In a text message exchange with Sydney radio station 2GB, as reported by The Australian, the Prime Minister’s office said he had never asked then-Qantas CEO Alan Joyce or anyone else at the airline for a free upgrade, following revelations he had accepted a number of upgrades since 2009.

Reporting in the Newcastle Herald this week claimed that cost overruns on the new international terminal, as well as a drop in passenger volumes and unbudgeted costs for the Astra Aerolab defence and aerospace precinct, have left the airport short of cash.

The union has accused the UAE-based airport services provider, whose customers include Qantas, Emirates, Etihad and Singapore Airlines, of “refusing decent improvements on rostering, job security and pay”.

Starting 28 November, air traffic controllers will increase the use of Simultaneous Opposite Direction Parallel Runway Operations (SODPROPS), which would allow more flights to take off and land over Moreton Bay rather than populated areas of Brisbane.

The airline is believed to be negotiating with Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport to launch a new route to Melbourne, which was reportedly one of Bonza’s more successful services before its collapse earlier this year.

The first QF97 service took off from Brisbane shortly before 10pm on Monday night aboard the A330-200 VH-EBG, and will operate four times per week. The route is expected to add more than 100,000 annual seats between Australia and the Philippines.