Australian Aviation

Japan has upgraded its Izumo-class ‘helicopter destroyers’ to accommodate F-35Bs. Stephen Kuper asks, could doing the same be a cost-effective solution to deter adversaries?

As reported by The Australian Financial Review, in figures from the middle of 2024, for the morning peak – 6am to 11am on weekdays – Qantas held 103 take-off slots, with Virgin holding 57 and Rex only seven.

The fly-through animation shows the airport’s new parallel runway and terminal facilities, as well as other features including its first multi-storey carparks and airport hotel, to be built over the next 10 years in what is being dubbed the “one airport” program.

The approval would speed up parts availability for Australian Defence Force aircraft while driving down overall sustainment costs.

The two-seater Tiger attack helicopters were originally introduced into service with the ADF in 2004 and are expected to be withdrawn from service in 2027/2028.

Despite concerns the bondholders presently have a “barely arguable” case against Velocity, the Federal Court granted leave to join the frequent flyer program to the Virgin class action.