Jake Nelson

The United Firefighters Union said the “zombie” reforms, which arose from a CASA review under the former Coalition government, would see fewer aviation firefighters protecting air travellers and add delays to response times.

Peter Harris, who chaired the Productivity Commission from 2012 to 2018, said it was the “height of absurdity” to think that the domestic market can only sustain two airlines as calls continue to mount for an overhaul of the controversial take-off slot system.

Scamwatch has received 209 reports in the past four months about text message scams targeting loyalty program members, including Qantas, Coles, and Telstra consumers.

Speaking on Today this week, Mr Shorten, now the Federal Minister for Government Services, seemed to agree with host Karl Stefanovic’s description of Australia’s airports as a “basket case” beset by “last minute cancellations [and] delays that stretch into the hours and days”.

The Turkish flag carrier is hoping to fly daily to Sydney and Melbourne, totalling 14 flights per week, as reported in The Australian Financial Review, but needs federal government approval as well as “fifth freedoms” that would allow it to fly from Melbourne and Sydney to Singapore.

The TWU is calling on Virgin and Bain Capital to “invest in [the airline’s] long-term success” before moving ahead with the ASX listing, and to address workplace issues that workers say have caused stress and fatigue.