Jake Nelson

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.

The inaugural EK440 service touched down in Adelaide just before 9pm Monday night on the 302-seater 777-200LR A6-EWJ, with the service expected to add more than 4,200 seats per week, or around 220,400 seats per year, between Adelaide and the important Gulf travel hub.

The financial results came as Perth Airport exceeded its pre-pandemic capacity for the 2023–24 financial year and resolved a long-standing dispute with Qantas over the airline’s move to the Airport Central precinct.