Jake Nelson

In this exclusive premium podcast, Jake Nelson speaks to Raul Villaron, head of Asia-Pacific for Embraer, about how the planemaker is pushing harder into the Australian market – and what regional jets could do for our aviation sector.

The latest BITRE data – the first since Rex axed its domestic jet operations, which consistently posted high on-time performance, at the end of July – showed QantasLink as the most reliable individual airline in on-time departures and arrivals, though Virgin saw the lowest cancellations.

Gap Drone’s four-metre-long Autonomous Transport Logistics Air System UAV is slated for commercial launch in 2026, with the start-up set to test its navigation and propulsion systems on a smaller-scale “Baby Atlas” demonstrator platform in coming weeks.

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.