Jake Nelson

Speaking on a panel at the 2024 Australian Aviation Summit, Virgin Australia’s Christian Bennett, the TWU’s Emily McMillan, and Google Wing’s Jesse Suskin discussed how measures in the White Paper could boost consumer confidence in aviation.

The news comes amid recent weather troubles at the airport, which again experienced heavy delays on Monday as high winds of up to 120km/h hit the east coast, forcing the closure of two runways and the cancellation of more than 60 domestic flights.

The new plane, to be registered VH-8QB (similar aircraft pictured), will be based in Adelaide to help grow the airline’s operations in South Australia, and has been leased from international aircraft lessor Avmax.

The inaugural flight, JQ842, touched down at Whitsunday Coast Airport at 6:13pm on Sunday, 1 September, aboard the A320-200 VH-YXS. Services will operate three days per week, with Jetstar celebrating what it says is the first ever direct connection between Adelaide and Proserpine.

The low-cost carrier is basing up to four planes and 60 pilots in the west, as announced in November, having already commenced services last month to Singapore and Phuket.

Speaking at the inaugural 2024 Australian Aviation Summit, Sharp said the sector is ‘at a really critical time for the future of aviation’.