Jetstar’s Singapore fling
Australian Aviation Podcast Network
It’s only been a few months since the end of Jetstar Asia, but now Jetstar is looking to make a bigger push back into the Singapore market. Starting next March, the low-cost carrier will fly between the Lion City and Bali … but that won’t be the end of the journey. In an interesting twist, the Singapore–Bali services will only be one leg on direct routes connecting through to the Sunshine Coast and Newcastle, a pair of smaller airports in regional cities that wouldn’t normally expect to see Singapore services – so, what’s the plan for Jetstar? On this week’s Australian Aviation...
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A big step towards Project Sunrise
Australian Aviation Podcast Network
A few short years ago, Project Sunrise – Qantas’ plan to fly non-stop from the east coast to London and New York – was a mere gleam in Alan Joyce’s eye. Now, however, as the first A350-1000ULR gets ready to have its engines fitted, those marathon flights are looking closer than ever. While there’s still a lot of work to be done, including extensive test flights, before the plane can be delivered in 2026 ahead of Project Sunrise’s planned 2027 launch, there’s now something undeniably concrete about the Flying Kangaroo’s ultra-long-haul ambitions – but will they succeed? On...
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How a ‘Teen Pilot Down Under’ conquered the world
Australian Aviation Podcast Network
Last month, a remarkable journey came to an end when 16-year-old Byron Waller touched down at Brisbane Airport following 67 days circumnavigating the globe in a light aircraft. Covering 41,700km in his Sling TSi, Byron’s odyssey through the skies took him over oceans, deserts, ice fields, and everything in between, including a landing at the Grand Canyon and guest appearances at big airshows. It was a monumental effort from a young aviator who just a few years ago was bedridden with chronic illnesses, and turned to flying – including becoming the youngest pilot to circumnavigate Australia,...
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Air T-Rex deal met with raptor-ous applause
Australian Aviation Podcast Network
After more than a year fossilised in amber, Australia’s third largest airline looks to have avoided extinction – American firm Air T has agreed to buy Rex, prompting roars of approval from government and industry as well as the best name for any corporate buyout in history. But while Air T brings with it plenty of Saab 340 parts to resurrect Rex’s dinosaur planes, will fleet renewal still be on the menu – and will creditors get their money back? Jake, David, and graduate journalist Bethany Alvaro make approximately too many Jurassic Park references as they dissect Air T’s Rex...
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Book thrown at Bonza backers
Australian Aviation Podcast Network
A year and a half after the abrupt collapse of Bonza, its erstwhile financier, Miami-based investment firm 777 Partners, is under the microscope again – and for all the wrong reasons. Its co-founder and former CFO have both been charged by the FBI over allegations of a jaw-dropping US$500 million fraud scheme, with accusations levelled of a complex web of lies and financial chicanery that left lenders and investors holding the bag. Jake and David dig into the charges and reflect again on how much 777 Partners’ alleged dodgy dealings may have brought Bonza down. Plus, which carrier was...
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Is Sydney ready to be a 2-airport city?
Australian Aviation Podcast Network
Sydney is on the verge of a major aviation transformation. With Western Sydney International (Nancy Bird-Walton) Airport set to open in 2026, the city will soon operate as a two-airport metropolis. How will the two-airport city work? Western Sydney is now Australia’s third-largest economy, with its population set to grow to around 3 million by the 2030s. With air travel demand set to double over the next 20 years, Western Sydney Airport promises to unlock new opportunities in transport, business, and tourism. But delivering on that vision requires careful planning and collaboration. In this...
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Qantas data hits the dark web
Australian Aviation Podcast Network
Just when Qantas thought the saga of its frequent flyer hack might be over, a fresh headache has hit the Flying Kangaroo as online miscreants published the stolen data on the dark web. The airline is warning customers to beware of scammers, and says it is working with “specialist cyber security experts” to investigate exactly what data was leaked – but what does all this mean for the 5 million people caught up in the breach? Jake turns to David’s cyber expertise to find out what might be next for Qantas, and what you can do to protect yourself if you’re affected. Plus, a treat...
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Making airports autism-friendly
Australian Aviation Podcast Network
While most of us can navigate airports without a second thought, those with disabilities can find it much more difficult – and people who have hidden disabilities like autism face their own unique challenges. As airports and airlines implement more accessibility measures for those with obvious needs like wheelchair users and the visually impaired, less is known on what to do for autistic travellers who can face severe sensory issues in the noisy, chaotic environment of an airport. Fortunately, the tide is starting to turn, with sunflower lanyards making hidden...
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Qantas’ fleet future takes flight
Australian Aviation Podcast Network
It’s finally here – the biggest change to Qantas’ domestic fleet in decades. The new A321XLR has joined the national carrier with its first commercial flight, and with 48 on order to replace the ageing 737-800s, it’s the most ambitious phase yet in the airline’s massive fleet renewal program. With a wider body, more fuel-efficient engines, and a slew of other changes, the A321XLR is a massive leap for the Flying Kangaroo – but does it live up to the hype, and what’s being done about the delicate issue of the toilets? On this week’s podcast, Jake has a full trip report of the...
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Cyber chaos at Europe’s big airports
Australian Aviation Podcast Network
Spare a thought for anyone who’s tried to get to or from Europe this week – not only is a “super typhoon” wreaking havoc in Hong Kong, but a massive ransomware attack over the weekend crippled several major airports in Europe, including London’s Heathrow. Passengers were stranded, flights thrown into chaos, and scenes of long lines and pandemonium dominated the headlines – but never fear, for the Australian Aviation Podcast has just the expertise to break down what happened and who might be responsible. On this week’s podcast, Jake and David take a look back at the hack attack,...
info_outlineIt’s the largest corporate fine for industrial relations breaches in Australian history: a mammoth $90 million, handed down to Qantas for the illegal outsourcing of around 1,800 ground workers during the pandemic – on top of $120 million already imposed in compensation.
At 75 per cent of the maximum penalty, it will doubtless put the fear of God (and the unions) into other large companies who might be considering similar moves, and the national carrier has offered an apology – but is it really sorry, or, as Justice Michael Lee speculated, only sorry it got caught?
Jake and special guest host Emilie Lauer of Smart Property Investment unpack the ramifications of the fine and ask whether a leopard ... or a Flying Kangaroo ... really can change its spots.
Plus, between ageing planes, razor-thin margins and soaring airfares, what can be done about the ongoing travails of regional aviation?