In the final Regional Airports Financial Sustainability Survey 2026, commissioned by the AAA and Regional Capitals Australia and conducted by ACIL Allen, 73 per cent of the 41 airports surveyed reported a loss for the 2025 financial year.

Malcolm Vivian was reportedly testing the kit-made Mk 26B Spitfire, VH-SFX (similar aircraft pictured), when it crashed at Malabaine, near Northam, on Wednesday morning. Australian Aviation understands the aircraft was Vivian’s second Spitfire.

Sunshine Coast to Auckland and Cairns to Christchurch will be put on ice indefinitely from 24 October, as the routes are no longer commercially viable and operating costs have increased. The low-cost carrier will, however, resume Sydney–Christchurch from 26 October.

The $250 million project, located adjacent the runway and key road freight networks for quick runway-to-road access, will include purpose-built facilities for partners such as Menzies Aviation, Airway and dnata, building on existing tenancies like FedEx and DHL.