Jake Nelson

The agreement sees Qantas Group recommit to servicing Gold Coast and Townsville Airports for at least the next seven years, and Mount Isa and Longreach Airports for the next 10 years. The group has a more than 20-year record of serving QAL’s airports.

An investment of $63.5 million will be made in the detailed design work, which will include additional platforms, track and bridge works, and signalling improvements. Six trains per hour are expected to Melbourne Airport once the rail link is complete.

The $130 million upgrades, which will be carried out in three stages, will strengthen 829 metres of runway to accommodate larger jet aircraft. Stage one will see the northern end of the runway upgraded, with stage two upgrading the middle and stage three the southern end.

The Flying Kangaroo, which currently operates two daily Sydney–Haneda services, is looking to fly once each per day from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane from 30 March next year, while maintaining connections to Tokyo’s other major international airport at Narita.

The minister has directed Airservices to develop procedures to increase Simultaneous Opposite Direction Parallel Runway Operations (SODPROPS) when weather and other conditions permit, thus allowing more aircraft to be routed over Moreton Bay and away from populated areas.

The consumer watchdog is accusing Jetstar of discouraging customers from seeking compensation for delayed or cancelled flights, and of denying legitimate claims, in 2022 and 2023. Charges are expected to be filed shortly in Auckland District Court.