Jake Nelson

Workers will conduct two sets of 2-hour stoppages from 7.30am–9.30am and 6.00pm–8.00pm on Thursday as part of protected industrial action after 99 per cent voted in favour. It comes as Qantas Freight and QantasLink ground handling staff are also planning strike action.

Due to expire in November, the Western Air Services Subsidy has been renewed for another year, enabling cheaper flights by Air Link and FlyPelican to an area covering more than 111,000 square kilometres, including Bourke, Walgett, Lightning Ridge, and Cobar.

Tickets for the 18-hour flights from Sydney to the Big Apple will go on sale in August next year, following the launch of the inaugural Project Sunrise services from Sydney to London in October 2027. It comes as flight tests continue on the first A350-1000ULR aircraft slated for Project Sunrise.

Members of the Australian Services Union who work for the airline began waiving or zeroing out sales-related fees – including excess baggage charges, seat changes, and late fees – at midnight on 23 September, continuing until midnight on 24 September.

In its Australian Aviation Network Overview report for August 2026, the air navigation service provider said it has “publicly acknowledged workforce resilience challenges that affected air traffic service outcomes in August”.

Building on the existing agreements from 2011, the new deal expands available seats by 5,000 per week for each country’s airlines, and adds new Indonesian destinations including Lake Toba, Borobudur, Mandalika, Komodo and Likupang.