Formerly operated by Bonza, the route was picked up by Jetstar in December 2024 and currently flies three times per week. It had been slated to end for the season in March next year, but will now be extended to October, adding more than 34,000 seats.
The facility is expected to further expand the company’s Australian research and development footprint and reinforce its commitment to South Australia’s rapidly growing defence and technology sector.
As reported in The Australian, an “enhanced school holiday overtime incentive” will pay ATCs 300 per cent overtime, instead of 190 per cent, for working extra shifts during the September/October break, so long as they also work all of their rostered hours.
Workers will conduct two sets of 2-hour stoppages from 7.30am–9.30am and 6.00pm–8.00pm on Thursday as part of protected industrial action after 99 per cent voted in favour. It comes as Qantas Freight and QantasLink ground handling staff are also planning strike action.
Due to expire in November, the Western Air Services Subsidy has been renewed for another year, enabling cheaper flights by Air Link and FlyPelican to an area covering more than 111,000 square kilometres, including Bourke, Walgett, Lightning Ridge, and Cobar.
Tickets for the 18-hour flights from Sydney to the Big Apple will go on sale in August next year, following the launch of the inaugural Project Sunrise services from Sydney to London in October 2027. It comes as flight tests continue on the first A350-1000ULR aircraft slated for Project Sunrise.