Jake Nelson

China Southern will fly non-stop to Beijing Daxing Airport four times per week from 13 December, with 28 business class seats and 258 economy class seats on each of its A330s.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the government has so far secured almost 600 seats on flights departing Lebanon, most if not all via Cyprus, and that “now is the time to leave”.

A Piper PA-30 Twin Engine Comanche aircraft, VH-8MN, was tasked with taking off and landing at both ends of the runway in daylight, dusk and nighttime conditions to ensure the airport’s 3,000 Aeronautical Ground Lights (AGLs) were fit for purpose ahead of the 2026 opening.

The airline has commenced its summer schedule, which triples its Melbourne–King Island services to nine per week; it also flies return between King Island and Burnie/Launceston 12 times per week.

Simon Westaway, who was executive head of corporate relations at Jetstar from 2004 to 2011, has also worked for Impulse Airways and Tourism Australia. He replaces James Goodwin, who left the AAA in a surprise announcement in July.

Pilots from both the Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA) and Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP) voted against the deal, which included a two-year wage freeze followed by annual increases of 3 per cent, as well as a $5,000 “Recovery Boost” payment.