Starting 4 December, Delta will launch three weekly flights between Brisbane and LAX using 306-seater A350-900s. This will give Brisbane services from four major North American carriers – Delta, United, American, and Air Canada – and boost its US capacity to 144 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.

The Australian cites a “high-level source” that states Jayne Hrdlicka “did not see it coming” despite the executive herself publicly suggesting the decision to leave was hers.

The airline said QF7168, scheduled to depart Melbourne at 5pm for a 6:40pm arrival, would carry 485 passengers, the equivalent of almost three cancelled Boeing 737-800 aircraft that normally fly the busy route.

Qantas has pointed to what it says is a “significant improvement in punctuality”, saying it has beaten Virgin for the 17th straight month, while Rex has held up its top-of-the-table ranking in on-time departures and cancellations, and Bonza said it led the field in on-time arrivals.