Jake Nelson

In its first detailed response to the allegations, the Flying Kangaroo said it was “impossible” for any airline to guarantee a service will operate at its scheduled time.

Skytrans CEO Alan Milne said smaller airlines must accept employees will move to bigger rivals, adding that it represents a good outcome for everyone.

Skytrans, which has operated three flights per week to Bamaga since September 2021, will increase its frequency to nine per week as of October 30 with an eye to further increases from April. It follows Rex’s decision to drop the route, accusing Qantas of “relentless pillaging” of its pilots.

The Roy Morgan survey, now in its second year, saw consumers turn away from Qantas – last year’s inaugural winner in travel and tourism – for its main rival following a plague of negative headlines for much of 2023, a reputational firestorm that forced the early exit of ex-CEO Alan Joyce.

The incident in March, which saw Defence’s entire Taipan fleet grounded, has been found to have been caused by a faulty engine part. Reports have confirmed, however, that the engines on the Taipan that crashed near Lindeman Island in July were both “running normally”.

The GPS-assisted approach allows planes to descend gradually over a longer flight path, as opposed to the normal stepped descent which requires planes to thrust their engines at each new altitude. Continuous descent approaches thus reduce engine noise and increase fuel efficiency.