The $150 million agreement means the state will receive a new Airbus H145 D3 and Bell 412 EP, while an existing 30-year-old police helicopter will be retired.

The airline will initially use a smaller 787-9 to take Australians from Tel Aviv to the British capital, with two services confirmed for today and Sunday.

Lorie Argus said the airport’s infrastructure improvements would allow more capacity and consumer choice and highlighted a need for more international airlines, possibly obliquely referring to the current Qatar Airways stoush.

The upgraded E-model Apache, known as Version 6.5 or V6.5, is the next configuration of the world’s premier attack helicopter. Australia plans to acquire 29 AH-64E Apaches to be built by Boeing as part of the multi-billion-dollar LAND 4503 Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter program to replace the Army’s troubled ARH Tiger helicopters.