Australian Aviation

The Flying Kangaroo will use larger aircraft on several routes, including its three new 787 Dreamliners and its returned A380s, as well as increasing frequency on other routes. The carrier is currently at around 80 per cent of its pre-pandemic international traffic.

In a forceful statement, the Flying Kangaroo said it “completely rejects” the allegations in the suit filed by Echo Law, and that it had not yet been served a claim as of midday Monday. Around $400 million in unclaimed COVID-19 credits remained as of June, most ranging between $100 and $500.

The championship, to be held in Northam around 100km east of Perth from 2 to 9 September, is the first in five years and the first ever outside the Northern Hemisphere. Five Australians will compete including NSW’s Nicola Scaife, already a two-time world champion.

Echo Law has lodged proceedings in the Federal Court against the Flying Kangaroo on behalf of what it says are “hundreds of thousands” of Qantas passengers.

Geoff Culbert made the comments as the airport revealed domestic passenger traffic slipped to just 87 per cent of pre-pandemic figures in July.

Organisers estimate the event attracted just under 100,000 paying attendees, but the overall number watching on from balconies or further up the beach could swell numbers to up to 300,000.