Jake Nelson

The Kiwi flag carrier attributed the profits to “demand for air travel that exceeded expectations”, with domestic capacity at 94 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, its international network restored, and all its aircraft now flying again. The airline saw an operating revenue of $6.3 billion NZD for the year.

Speaking to the House Standing Committee on Economics’ inquiry into promoting economic dynamism, competition and business formation, AAA CEO James Goodwin noted that Qantas and Jetstar together have a 66 per cent share of the domestic market, with Virgin at 29 per cent.

In a submission to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics’ inquiry into promoting economic dynamism, competition and business formation, the airport urged the Government to lift the current 80-20 “use it or lose it” rule to 95-5.

The service, to launch on 21 November, is Bonza’s first outside the eastern seaboard, and will connect it to its fourth state after Queensland, NSW and Victoria. With 11 other routes planned from its new Gold Coast base, Bonza will operate 34 concurrent routes to 18 destinations.

The Qantas CEO will appear before a Senate committee for the first time since 2014, when he faces the Senate Select Committee on the Cost of Living next Monday.

Kirsty Ferguson, who heads Pinstripe Solutions, believes that the impact of furloughs and layoffs during COVID lockdowns shook the confidence of pilots and crew who believed they had solid jobs, leading many to leave the sector or seek greener pastures overseas.