Jake Nelson

In an update on Tuesday morning, the airport confirmed its runway is “clear and serviceable” following the severe flooding in the wake of Cyclone Jasper that left aircraft partially underwater and forced the aerodrome to close for the second time in four days.

The two 737 MAX 8 aircraft, C-FLKC and C-FLHI, operated by Flair crew, have been given the green light to operate Bonza services within Australia, ending an uncertain period for the low-cost carrier after it was forced to delay the launch of Gold Coast flights while it awaited regulatory approval.

Images on social media have shown planes underwater at the airport, while holidaymakers have been left stranded at destinations such as Osaka as flights have been unable to take off for Cairns. The airport on Sunday was hit with 309mm of rain in 24 hours, with floods surpassing 1977 levels.

Türkiye’s national carrier, which had applied for 14 flights per week under bilateral air service agreements (ASAs), has been granted an initial 21 flights per week, which will increase to 28 in the latter half of 2024 and 35 the following year. It plans to launch its first flights in March.

Flight JQ121 to Nadi took off at 6:52am on Saturday on board the A321neo VH-OFW, arriving at 12:10pm local time before returning to Melbourne as JQ122 at 1:54pm. The service, which operates three times per week, is expected to carry 72,000 passengers per year.

The deal, which includes pay increases of between 14 and 18 per cent over three years, as well as an extra six days off per year, recognition for unpaid standby time, and overtime after nine hours, comes after months of negotiations and an intervention by Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson.