Jake Nelson

The airline, which had also been considering the Airbus A220-100, has ordered eight of the second-generation E-Jets, with the first to be delivered from the second half of 2025.

Nautilus Aviation, which owned the helicopter that hit the roof of the DoubleTree hotel on the Cairns Esplanade at around 1:50am, said the flight was “unauthorised” and that it is working with authorities including Queensland Police and the ATSB to investigate the matter.

The device, which will see use by more than 2,250 crew members for training and assessment over the next 12 months, includes 52 fully-functioning seats across Economy, Premium Economy, and Business Premier classes.

Hundreds were evacuated from the Double Tree Hotel on the Cairns Esplanade after the Robinson R44 helicopter collided with the roof at around 1:50am, causing a fire. Two people were taken to hospital with smoke inhalation.

This is the second time this year that tensions in the Middle East have forced the Flying Kangaroo to alter its QF9 service, which will operate as QF209 and refuel in Singapore. The return QF10 service will continue to operate nonstop, as winds are more favourable eastbound.

Dubbed the Clive Berghofer Maintenance Centre, the 5,000-square-metre facility is the largest maintenance base in LifeFlight’s network and the largest hangar at Archerfield, replacing the old LifeFlight maintenance centre built in the 1940s.