Jake Nelson

Unveiled as part of the airline’s 2023 Investor Day, the fund will include Qantas’ existing $290 million partnership with Airbus to develop an Australian SAF industry, and will add an extra $110 million for projects such as “high-integrity carbon offsets, offshore SAF investments, and operational efficiency technologies”.

The base, which cost $3.4 million, will include a hangar large enough to house a Leonardo AW139 helicopter, and will be home to the LifeFlight Surat Gas Aeromedical Service (SGAS), which is provided by LifeFlight on behalf of Surat Basin Gas companies.

Waters, who does not have an aviation background, will be tasked with taming a dispute with Qantas over moving terminals as well as overseeing a new runway. 

Passengers on Wi-Fi-enabled Airbus A330-200 and Boeing 737 flights to and from Singapore, Denpasar, Jakarta, Manila and Port Moresby will be able to access the service while the jet is flying over Australia and within the coverage area of NBN Co’s Sky Muster satellites.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, CEO Alan Joyce said announcements will be made on the details of Qantas’s support, but affirmed that the Flying Kangaroo will throw its considerable weight behind the Voice.

QantasLink’s 20 717s will gradually be taken out of its fleet in favour of 29 new A220-300s, which have 25 per cent more seats – 137, compared to 110 on the 717 – as well as twice the range and 28 per cent lower fuel burn per seat. The first A220 is expected to arrive later this year.