Rex has set its eyes on massively expanding its fleet of Boeing 737s to 30 aircraft over the coming five to seven years, with an aim to enter one new plane into service every two to three months.

Sydney Flight College has introduced a slew of new scholarships to help cover training costs for the next generation of promising Indigenous and female pilots.

AIRMSHL Hupfeld said the recent criticism was “completely unfounded” and insisted the reduction in time in the sky was actually due to “training and capability requirements”

Amberley is being used as a base from which the Japan Air Self-Defense Force can load supplies onto aircraft and prepare for a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief mission in Tonga.