The state will invest an extra $122 million into the subsidies to extend them to June 2031; however, under the revised plan to take effect from 1 July next year, passengers will pay more for “high-demand” flights such as those booked on school or public holidays, or at the last minute.
The US$8.3 billion deal, announced last year, brings Spirit back under Boeing’s control, and includes manufacturing of 737 fuselages; major structures for the 767, 777 and 787 Dreamliner programs; and commercially-procured P-8 and KC-46 fuselages.
Specialist engineers from Babcock’s design and completions team are set to provide a range of transformative enhancements and upgrades to the Airbus H145 helicopters, including improving tactical and sensor systems and increasing surveillance capabilities.
The low-cost carrier will fly daily A320 services from Melbourne to Denpasar starting 21 March, adding around 130,000 seats per year, and offering promotional fares to entice new passengers on the popular route.
The carrier, which axed the route in early 2023, will recommence direct services between Sydney and Darwin on 22 June next year, operating until 10 January 2027, with plans to restart again in March 2027. It will fly up to seven times per week return during peak periods.
Load factors remained particularly high, averaging 84.4 per cent in October – one of the highest levels recorded since ACCC monitoring began.