Airlines v airports – again
Australian Aviation Podcast Network
It’s a tug-of-war as old as aviation itself – airlines and airports wrangling over fees – and now, the airlines have the ACCC (at least partially) on their end of the rope. The consumer watchdog and the airline industry are both pushing for an overhaul to the current regulations which they say benefit “geographic monopoly” airports like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, and lead to higher fees and airfares – but are they right? On this week’s Australian Aviation Podcast, Jake and David wade into the eternal stoush and examine the arguments on either side – as well as what...
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AIs in the skies
Australian Aviation Podcast Network
As AI becomes more ubiquitous in everyday life, airlines like Qantas and Virgin Australia are looking to increase their use of AI tools in operational and customer-facing areas of their business. Proponents say AI can improve efficiency, safety, productivity and customer experience in aviation – but what are the risks? On this week’s Australian Aviation Podcast, Jake and David are joined by Daniel Croft of AI Daily to discuss whether we should welcome our new robot overlords. Plus, where do Australian airlines stand in the region’s on-time performance stakes?
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Winning the ‘war on talent’
Australian Aviation Podcast Network
With just 5.1 per cent of roles in air traffic controllers, pilots and licensed aircraft maintenance held by women – and only 4 per cent globally for pilots – the pace of change towards gender parity in aviation is still glacial. Though Australia’s figures are a little higher, even here we still have a long way to go, and with the aviation industry crying out for talent, it’s clear that we need to make a big push for a more diverse workforce. Leidos Australia has recently hit its goal of 20 per cent female pilots, with the aerospace firm driving hard towards a more inclusive corporate...
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Making your manuals automatic
Australian Aviation Podcast Network
Keeping operational manuals up-to-date is a vital part of ensuring that any aviation company is maintaining regulatory compliance and that staff are aware of the latest policies and procedures. Many businesses, however, are still using outdated and clunky methods such as Word documents and PDFs to distribute their manuals – a time-consuming and error-prone process that presents significant operational risks. Web Manuals, an all-in-one document management system, has recently arrived in Australia and is offering flexible, adaptable, AI-enabled editing, review, distribution and monitoring of...
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How QF32 beat the ‘black swan’
Australian Aviation Podcast Network
It could have been Australia’s worst-ever airline disaster – but it wasn’t. When an engine exploded aboard Qantas flight 32 in 2010, its crew were faced with a “black swan” event, one so unthinkable they could not possibly prepare for it. With critical systems in chaos and hundreds of lives at stake, the A380’s crew, led by Captain Richard de Crespigny, had to figure out how to get the plane safely back on the ground … and over the course of several harrowing hours, they succeeded. Not only did the team save the aircraft with the odds stacked against them, but they got every...
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The highs and lows of 2025
Australian Aviation Podcast Network
A year is a long time in aviation, and 2025 has seemed a longer year than most – what with the long-running Rex administration; Qantas’ ongoing travails; Virgin Australia’s tie-up with Qatar Airways and subsequent IPO; fleet renewals aplenty; and a deluge of other news. Looking ahead, 2026 looms as what will doubtless be another huge year for the sector, including the opening of Western Sydney International Airport, the delivery of Qantas’ first Project Sunrise jets, and the potential entry of new airlines to Australia’s skies. On the final regular Australian Aviation Podcast for...
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Sky-high demand sends airfares soaring
Australian Aviation Podcast Network
If there’s one issue that never really goes away for Australia’s aviation sector, it’s airfares. Massive demand has pushed prices up, according to the ACCC, with October airfares at their highest since 2022, despite both Qantas Group and Virgin Australia adding extra capacity. To make matters worse for those out west, the WA government is set to increase caps for regional airfares during “high-demand” periods, while the spectre of rising airfares also appears to have spooked Canberra into nixing plans for an EU-style “pay-on-delay” scheme. On this week’s Australian Aviation...
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A320s eighty-sixed – what’s the 411?
Australian Aviation Podcast Network
If you were looking to fly anywhere in Australia this past weekend: we’re so sorry to hear it. Between a fire at Melbourne Airport, the grounding of half of Jetstar’s A320 fleet, and a nationwide passport processing outage, delays and cancellations plagued travellers for three days straight. Now that everything has (thankfully) returned to normal, what exactly was the deal with that Airbus software update – and what does it mean for the workhorse A320, one of the most popular passenger aircraft types in the world? On this week’s podcast, Jake, David and Bethany sift through the ashes...
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Smashing the aviation data silos
Australian Aviation Podcast Network
With outdated and confusing systems and processes common across the aviation industry, safety and compliance can be a thorny problem for many businesses, with “data silos” holding up procedures. OneReg, a New Zealand-based company, aims to change all that, moving businesses away from cluttered folders of Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and PDFs to centralise compliance on one easy-to-use platform. With customers across Australia, New Zealand, the UK and EU, and the Middle East, OneReg is looking to enable industry-wide data sharing to help the aviation sector move away from tick-box...
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Major airlines charged with assault on batteries
Australian Aviation Podcast Network
After months in the works, it’s official – from December, you’ll be banned from using or charging your portable power bank on flights with any major airline in Australia. Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin, which already require power banks to be carried in cabin baggage and kept within easy reach, will now prohibit passengers from using them entirely – instead, you’ll need to use in-seat power if available, or simply go without. On this week’s podcast, as the start dates loom, Jake and David revisit the airlines’ power bank ban and examine the safety issues that have driven it. Plus,...
info_outlineSpare 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, how it unfolded, and what it might mean for Australian airports.
Plus, three QantasLink bases could get the chop following a review – how might it impact both staff and regional travellers?