Speaking to the House Standing Committee on Economics in Toowoomba last month, Manish Raniga, chief executive officer, airline investments at 777 Partners, said the “length of runway” for Bonza will eventually “run out” if the airline cannot gain appropriate access to Australia’s largest airport.

Under the two-year agreement, BAE Systems will sustain the electronic support measures and electronic warfare self-protection systems for Boeing Defence Australia under Wedgetail’s Airborne Early Warning & Control program.

The firm, which employs almost 4,000 employees across 16 catering facilities in Australia, is seeking to fill frontline roles at major and regional airports, as well as support roles in areas including finance, procurement and culinary.

Susan Schneider told a parliamentary inquiry there was not a “sinister motive” behind the high cancellation rate on flights between Sydney and Melbourne.