Virgin has introduced more generous booking flexibility than Qantas in a bid to entice travellers to fly domestically despite border uncertainty.

The RAAF are now using electromagnetic pulses to scan the KC-30A’s refuelling hose for dangerous corrosion rather than just relying on manual checks.

Qantas has also urged employees to sign a petition that argues border controls should be “risk-assessed” against an agreed definition of a hotspot.

Qantas said it will launch a new Brisbane-Port Macquarie service – but only when Queensland reveals a date for dropping its hard border with NSW.