Robert Dougherty

The new route will mark the first time Qantas international services have operated from the Gold Coast in almost five years, adding more than 52,000 seats annually across the Tasman and boosting tourism in both directions.

Flight QF65 departed Perth Airport earlier this week bound for Johannesburg, opening a direct link for the national carrier between Western Australia and South Africa.

The company is expected to launch the service from Melbourne to the South Asian nation’s capital, Colombo, from 25 August next year.

The contract is for handheld counter-drone systems and associated accessories, according to a statement from the company.

Under the new arrangement, the New Zealand Defence Force has reportedly agreed to purchase two new Airbus A321XLR aircraft from US-based Air Lease Corporation.

The 19th Dubai Airshow, held at Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai from 17 to 21 November, is a crucial defence and aerospace industry event targeting markets across North Africa, the Middle East and south Asia.