The airline is believed to be negotiating with Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport to launch a new route to Melbourne, which was reportedly one of Bonza’s more successful services before its collapse earlier this year.

The Australian Army is rapidly bringing its fleet of UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters into service, with the aircraft and crew flying more than 1,400 hours in support of introduction into service activities since the aircraft’s arrival in 2023.

The first QF97 service took off from Brisbane shortly before 10pm on Monday night aboard the A330-200 VH-EBG, and will operate four times per week. The route is expected to add more than 100,000 annual seats between Australia and the Philippines.

The inaugural EK440 service touched down in Adelaide just before 9pm Monday night on the 302-seater 777-200LR A6-EWJ, with the service expected to add more than 4,200 seats per week, or around 220,400 seats per year, between Adelaide and the important Gulf travel hub.