Jake Nelson

Swissport says its “rigorous global benchmarks” have resulted in a 56 per cent drop in recordable injuries over five years since it took over ground handling for many airlines; a 43 per cent reduction in lost time injuries over previous in-house operations; and a 75 per cent improvement in damage to Qantas aircraft.

VH-OGG “Coral Sea”, which left the Airbus paint shop in Hamburg this week, bears a design produced in collaboration with the Great Barrier Reef Foundation featuring sea turtles, clownfish and coral, and is set to arrive in Australia next month.

More than 100 members of the Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) attended the protest at Canberra Airport on Wednesday, calling on Swissport to ensure job security and address “widespread safety breaches” as negotiations get underway, saying they are preparing to put a claim on the company.

The air navigation service provider last year increased fees for air traffic control (ATC) and aviation rescue firefighting (ARFF) services by 6 per cent, its first rise in 10 years, with chief executive Rob Sharp telling Senate Estimates that Airservices lost $237 million last year and revenue was down 24 per cent.

Burnie–King Island is one of two Tasmanian routes Rex is cutting from 22 June, with Melbourne–Devonport also facing the chop. Sharp Airlines currently flies to King Island from both Burnie and Launceston, having itself cut a Melbourne (Essendon) service this month.

Starting this week, passengers aboard Qantas flights QF154 and QF178 from Auckland and Queenstown to Melbourne can complete the Australia Digital Travel Declaration through the Qantas app up to 72 hours before travel.