Jake Nelson

In response to a letter from the International Air Services Commission (IASC), Jim Wolfe, assistant secretary of the department’s International Aviation Branch, said the proposed 28 weekly flights to Doha would be permitted according to the terms of bilateral air services agreements with Qatar.

The airport has again rejected reporting by the Newcastle Herald that it is in financial trouble after an article claimed it had been forced to “go cap in hand” to Defence asking to have its rent excused, but was knocked back.

The industrial action, including a stand-by ban, covers both the flights Finnair operates for Qantas from Sydney to Singapore and Bangkok, as well as flights used by pilots to transfer to those flights.

The company, which provides ground services to 29 domestic and international airline customers at 18 airports across both countries, has opened a new location at Melbourne Airport and renovated its facility in Sydney, with plans to open air cargo operations in Auckland next month.

The Coalition has said it will provide $14 million, and Labor $11.5 million, to complete upgrades backed by $14.6 million from the federal government if elected on 8 March. The funding will assist the airport in the state’s southwest to complete its $30 million master plan.

In a brief announcement on Friday afternoon, the carrier put paid to months of rumours about Jones’ ascendancy to replace outgoing CEO Jayne Hrdlicka, following apparent pushback from corners such as the Transport Workers’ Union and the federal employment minister.