Jake Nelson

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.

Four staff were ferried safely ashore after being evacuated from a remote offshore weather station by the next generation submarine hunter and anti-surface warfare helicopter, operating from guided missile destroyer HMAS Brisbane Navy warship.

Registered VH-8ZL, the plane touched down in Brisbane at 4:21pm on Wednesday after its ferry flight from Goodyear, Arizona, where it had undergone heavy maintenance and painting. Rex will put the aircraft, which previously flew with Brazilian low-cost carrier Gol, into service this week.

Starting on 17 June, Jetstar will fly its 787-8 fleet up to daily to Singapore, and up to five times per week to Bangkok and Phuket respectively. Currently the airline flies up to six times per week to Singapore and three times per week to Bangkok and Phuket.

In the last Australian Aviation podcast for 2023, Adam and Jake discuss Bonza’s difficulties with CASA around its new Gold Coast base and how they might be resolved.