The New Zealand Government has just announced a near tripling of the Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL). Fees will increase from NZ$35 (~US$22) to NZ$100 (~US$62). The rise is to “ensure visitors contribute to public services and high-quality experiences while visiting New Zealand . Background Like many global destinations,...

Qantas 787 Dreamliner flights will largely be replacing Jetstar flights between Melbourne and Honolulu from May 2025. These flights are available to book from today (3 September 2024) and are part of the Qantas North and South America Red Tail Sale. However, ‘sale’ is a broad term, and you won’t...

It’s nearly one and a half years since Bain Capital put off its proposed float of Virgin Australia. The AFR Street Talk column is predicting that Qatar Airways is days away from signing for a minority stake in Virgin Australia. Any purchase would be subject to approval from the Foreign...

Under the headline of ‘Flight Training‘, Qantas has released some details of its replacement for its Boeing 737 fleet, predominantly on domestic flights. The new Airbus A321XLR will start flying domestic routes from April 2025. The 28 aircraft on order are part of the replacement program for the Boeing 737...

Qantas’s financial reporting today (29 July) shows earnings have fallen by 18% to AU$2.08 billion compared to last year’s record. Margins for domestic and international operations have missed targets. That’s likely because of the airlines increased spending on customer and service improvements. That investment was required due to the reputation...

Sunday 1 September sees European airports move back to 100ml limits on all liquids in hand luggage. The limit applies to liquids as well as gels and aerosols. Previously, with the installation of advanced scanners, or Explosive Detection Systems for Cabin Baggage (EDSCB) to give them their formal name, you...

Western Sydney International Airport – Nancy Bird Wilson (WSI) has confirmed the intention of Singapore Airlines to operate out of the new 24-hour airport. WSI, now 80% complete is scheduled to open in 2026. Local domestic carriers Qantas and Jetstar have committed to some operations from the new airport, but...

The headline initiative of this Aviation White Paper is the creation of a new independent Aviation Ombudsperson who will: ‘…have the power to direct airlines and airports to provide remedies to consumers and investigate customer complaints about airlines’ and airports’ conduct, with penalties for non-compliance.’ Aviation White Paper, 2024 The...

There has been quite a lot of activity on the Regional Express (REX) front. The regional airline has been involved in everything from referrals to the Australian Federal Police, the setting up of a data centre for potential bidders, and the sacking of even more staff. More than three weeks...

The European Union is to replace stamps in your passport with a digital electronic Entry/Exit System (EES) for foreign visitors. The change is due on 10 November 2024 No longer will you be able to use your passport to trip down memory lane. It will no longer be an aide-memoire,...

While their names have been linked for a few years, this time Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand are entering a more intimate relationship. Codeshare Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia have had a new codeshare agreement approved that will allow Virgin customers to book Air New Zealand flights to...

Juneyao Air is debuting these flights to Australia, with a four times a week service to Sydney and a three times a week service to Melbourne. From the peak season of January/February, Juneyao Air is planning to make the Melbourne-Shanghai route daily (the Chinese New Year is on 29 January)....

With the re-organisation going on at Oman Air and the dropping of the A330 aircraft, the airline now only has two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners with First Class. As of 9 September 2024, Oman Air will no longer be offering First Class but will rebrand the cabin as ‘Business Studio’ –...