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australianaviation.com.au
Australian Aviation
@australianaviation.com.au
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Market intelligence, information and insights for Australia’s aviation sector. www.australianaviation.com.au
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australianaviation.com.au
LifeFlight has marked what it says is another record year for patient retrievals, with activity up across both its helicopters and jets. #aviation #aerospace
https://bit.ly/3YTvJa2
LifeFlight helps almost 9,000 people in 2025
The aeromedical provider, which recently invested in new AW139 rescue helicopters, said it assisted 8,838 people last year – up 4.2 per cent on 2024 – translating to one every 59 minutes. Its helicopter crews completed 3,857 missions, while its jet c...
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January 21, 2026 at 6:30 AM
australianaviation.com.au
On this week’s Australian Aviation Podcast, Jake and David wade into the eternal stoush over airport charges and examine the arguments on either side – as well as what the airports need all that money for. #aviation #aerospace
https://bit.ly/4jUelvx
Video Podcast: Airlines v airports – again
On this week’s Australian Aviation Podcast, Jake and David wade into the eternal stoush over airport charges and examine the arguments on either side – as well as what the airports need all that money for.
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January 21, 2026 at 5:30 AM
australianaviation.com.au
Queensland-based regional carrier East Air says it is not walking away from regular Hamilton Island services despite switching its Cairns route to charter flights. #aviation #aerospace
https://bit.ly/4pSTwlF
Exclusive: East Air not giving up regular passenger flights, says CEO
The airline, which began operating between Cairns and Hamilton Island in November – reviving a former QantasLink route – now says on its website that the twice-weekly flights are being replaced by “personalised services”.
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January 21, 2026 at 4:30 AM
australianaviation.com.au
Boeing Defence Australia and Defence have officially welcomed the first 35 trainees who will begin aircraft technician training to support the Australian Army’s AH-64E Apache and CH-47F Chinook helicopter fleets. #aviation #aerospace
https://bit.ly/4qEBswQ
Boeing and Defence open North Qld aviation training academy
The new aviation training academy, funded by the Australian government and delivered by Aviation Australia in Townsville, is set to play a key role in building Australia’s future Defence workforce, with the first cohort of 35 maintenance engineer tra...
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January 21, 2026 at 3:30 AM
australianaviation.com.au
Australia needs to do more to defend critical sectors such as energy, water, and data centres to keep up with the age of drone warfare, a new study says. #aviation #aerospace
https://bit.ly/3YOXMaM
Australia not ready for drone-based cyber attacks, research warns
Australian utilities and critical infrastructure have yet to face anything approaching a domestic cyber incident enabled by drones; however, the country cannot afford to rest on its laurels, according to a new report from the University of Canberra.
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January 21, 2026 at 2:30 AM
australianaviation.com.au
Perth Airport has added to a run of record years, passing 18 million passengers for the first time in 2025 after almost hitting 17 million in 2024. #aviation #aerospace
https://bit.ly/3YP9C4A
Perth Airport hits another all-time high in 2025
Australia’s western gateway saw 18.026 million travellers in the 2025 calendar year, up from 16.9 million in 2024 and more than 15 million in 2023. This included all-time highs for international (5.4 million), regional (6.4 million), and interstate (...
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January 21, 2026 at 1:00 AM
australianaviation.com.au
The pilot of a kit-made light aircraft that crashed in Gippsland just over a year ago was known for “risky flying behaviour” and had received “inadequate” training, the ATSB has concluded. #aviation #aerospace
https://bit.ly/3LSpvnW
‘Risky’ Gippsland crash pilot slipped through the cracks, says ATSB
All three occupants of the experimental Morgan Cougar Mk 1, VH-LDV – 20-year-old pilot Luke Smith; his younger brother Ben, 16; and cousin Dusty Daly, 15 – were killed when it crashed into a paddock near West Sale Airport on 16 November 2024.
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January 20, 2026 at 6:30 AM
australianaviation.com.au
Australia’s peak body for airlines has called for stronger regulation on airports after the ACCC said it lacked the power to rein them in. #aviation #aerospace
https://bit.ly/49PdqIh
Airlines back ACCC call for more regulation on ‘monopoly’ airports
As reported in The Australian, an ACCC submission to a Senate enquiry warned that the current framework of monitoring and reporting “no longer acts as a constraint on behaviour” by airport monopolies, and suggested a commercial arbitration scheme be ...
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January 20, 2026 at 3:30 AM
australianaviation.com.au
QantasLink A220s are set to come to Adelaide within the next two months, the airline says. #aviation #aerospace
https://bit.ly/4quQd59
QantasLink to bring A220s to Adelaide
Starting on 3 March, the new A220s will begin to replace the smaller Embraer E190s on Adelaide-Brisbane services, bringing in-flight wi-fi, updated cabins, and around 100,000 additional seats per year to the route.
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January 20, 2026 at 1:30 AM
australianaviation.com.au
Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) will open with a free interim bus service connecting it to St Marys as delays continue on the new metro line. #aviation #aerospace
https://bit.ly/3ZldY3v
WSI will have free buses during wait for metro opening
Buses will run every 30 minutes between 4.30am to midnight Sunday to Thursday and 4.30am to 1am Friday and Saturday when the airport opens its doors later this year, with the trip between WSI and St Marys expected to take 30 minutes in “normal traffi...
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January 20, 2026 at 12:30 AM
australianaviation.com.au
QantasLink will overhaul its WA operations with the addition of three Embraer E190 aircraft and cabin upgrades for its existing A320 and A319 fleet. #aviation #aerospace
https://bit.ly/3LVZvrL
QantasLink begins Network Aviation fleet overhaul in WA
The three mid-life E190s, part of an order of 14 to replace Network’s ageing Fokker 100 fleet, will arrive from the end of this year, while the 28 A320s and A319s will be fitted with on-board wi-fi; the A320s will also get new seats with USB-A and C ...
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January 19, 2026 at 11:00 PM
australianaviation.com.au
European aviation regulators have reportedly begun testing on Chinese state-owned planemaker Comac’s C919 passenger jet as it seeks approval to operate outside China. #aviation #aerospace
https://bit.ly/45QwpAH
China’s C919 narrowbody jet undergoes European flight tests
According to reporting in the South China Morning Post, two test pilots from EASA, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, have conducted verification flights of the narrowbody jet in Shanghai. Comac is looking to position the C919 as a competitor...
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January 16, 2026 at 6:02 AM
australianaviation.com.au
The Vivid Sydney festival’s drone light show may return this year after being cancelled in 2025 due to safety concerns. #aviation #aerospace
https://bit.ly/4qxaDus
NSW looks to bring back Vivid Sydney drone show
Up to 1,000 drones could be used for the 2026 show, proposed to run over 14 nights at Darling Harbour, as opposed to its former location near Circular Quay. The show was axed last year following dangerously large crowds in 2024.
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January 16, 2026 at 4:33 AM
australianaviation.com.au
Brisbane Airport’s centennial year was the busiest in its history, the airport has said, with almost 25 million passengers in 2025. #aviation #aerospace
https://bit.ly/4sJTmPS
January 16, 2026 at 1:00 AM
australianaviation.com.au
Brisbane Airport’s centennial year was the busiest in its history, the airport has said, with almost 25 million passengers in 2025. #aviation #aerospace
https://bit.ly/4sJTmPS
January 16, 2026 at 1:00 AM
australianaviation.com.au
A collapsed flight training school has lost its appeal against an $800,000 lawsuit by a former student. #aviation #aerospace
https://bit.ly/4pJKAiq
January 15, 2026 at 11:00 PM
australianaviation.com.au
Australia has seen its busiest Christmas travel period in five years, according to newly-released figures from Airservices. #aviation #aerospace
https://bit.ly/4qmJMRs
January 15, 2026 at 6:30 AM
australianaviation.com.au
Airservices Australia has apologised for delays at Sydney Airport due to staff shortages, saying it is working to increase employee numbers. #aviation #aerospace
https://bit.ly/4a0CeNB
January 15, 2026 at 5:30 AM
australianaviation.com.au
Air Niugini is set to step up competition with Qantas on Sydney-Port Moresby services with new aircraft and an extra weekly flight. #aviation #aerospace
https://bit.ly/4sLR9ni
January 15, 2026 at 4:34 AM
australianaviation.com.au
Eight RAAF heritage aircraft are being withdrawn from flying after a “comprehensive review of technical and airworthiness factors”. #aviation #aerospace
https://bit.ly/3YFOEVQ
January 15, 2026 at 1:00 AM
australianaviation.com.au
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. #aviation #aerospace
https://bit.ly/3Nl4Ysv
Video Podcast: AIs in the skies
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.
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January 14, 2026 at 10:00 PM
australianaviation.com.au
Planespotters at Sydney Airport have been treated to the first Australian visit of Cathay Pacific’s retro-livery A350-900. #aviation #aerospace
https://bit.ly/3NKDs7O
Cathay Pacific ‘lettuce leaf sandwich’ livery returns to Australia
B-LRJ, decked out in the 1970s-1990s livery to mark the airline’s 80th anniversary, arrived in Sydney at 7am on Wednesday morning operating flight CX111 from Hong Kong.
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January 14, 2026 at 6:00 AM
australianaviation.com.au
Air New Zealand is planning to roll out changes to its scheduling system across its domestic and international jet network after seeing a boost in its on-time performance. #aviation #aerospace
https://bit.ly/4qSh6Qg
Air New Zealand flags scheduling overhaul after on-time success
The carrier, which placed second in the Asia-Pacific for on-time arrivals in 2025, last year introduced a new system for its regional operations, saying it involved “rethinking how schedules are built to better reflect the realities of operating at d...
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January 14, 2026 at 5:06 AM
australianaviation.com.au
Virgin Australia is extending its trial of pets in cabins after demand “well above initial forecasts”. #aviation #aerospace
https://bit.ly/4buYNMn
Virgin extends pet flights trial after high demand
The trial, initially slated to finish at the end of January, will instead be extended to 30 June, with the airline reportedly seeing strong bookings as well as positive feedback from both customers and staff. More than 300 pets flew in the cabin on V...
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January 13, 2026 at 11:30 PM
australianaviation.com.au
Airbus’ commercial aeroplane backlog has hit a new record high as at the end of 2025. #aviation #aerospace
https://bit.ly/4pEVYMp
Airbus commercial plane backlog hits all-time high
The planemaker has a total order book of 8,754 commercial aircraft at year-end, with 1,000 new gross orders over the course of the calendar year. A total of 793 Airbus planes were delivered to 91 airline customers around the world in 2025.
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January 13, 2026 at 6:30 AM