Australian Aviation

Darwin–Singapore, which was slated to launch in December using Embraer E190s, will instead launch in March 2025 using the A220s. The news comes as Qantas rolls out a new route from Brisbane to Palau, alters some key routes to the US and Asia-Pacific, and brings two A380s back into service.

The complaint centres on Qantas’ ‘fly carbon neutral’ product, promotion of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and the credibility of the company’s net zero transition, and suggests a lack of clear targets and credible transition strategies.

Speaking to The Australian this week, Australian and International Pilots Association president Tony Lucas said the deal – which would see Qatar operate flights to Doha under the Virgin Australia banner – is a “workaround of bilateral agreements” and of Australian jobs.

The memorandum of understanding will see Wisk, a subsidiary of Boeing, and Airservices collaborate and share expertise on autonomous air mobility, with an estimated 1 million air taxi flights per year expected by 2043. Wisk is aiming to have air taxis in Brisbane by the 2032 Olympic Games.

The demonstration took place in France and Italy from 30 September to 9 October and involved multiple manned helicopters and unmanned systems connected to a single network.

In its Australian Aviation Network Overview report for September 2024, Airservices pointed to favourable weather conditions as one factor in the reduction of total ground delay hours September.