Australian Aviation

Defence has confirmed initial tests were recently completed on the first remotely piloted aircraft system, based at RAAF Base Tindal, and that the second and third aircraft arrived at the facility in May this year.

VH-SBV operated the final Q300 flight for QantasLink on Friday morning, QF2003 from Tamworth to Sydney, having carried more than 1.2 million passengers on 39,000 flights over its lifetime. The 50-seater turboprops joined the Qantas fleet with subsidiary Sunstate Airlines in 2000.

Domestic and international traffic both grew year on year during the three months from April to June this year, with 6.09 million domestic and 3.94 million passengers. In total, passenger numbers grew 3 per cent over the same period in 2024.

The works will include expansion of the terminal to both the north and south, as well as a larger check-in area with overhauled technology and 25 per cent more capacity, and the addition of up to nine more aircraft parking positions.

In a statement, a spokesperson said the government is “disappointed” Nexus Airlines is not continuing on the route, which will be left to Airnorth only, but “is committed to ensuring the Kimberley remains connected and accessible”.

The second-generation E-Jets, a replacement for VARA’s ageing Fokker 100 fleet, will begin operating charter flights in October with regular passenger transport services to follow starting from November, according to data from AeroRoutes.