2PAXfly
QANTAS: Gets AU$90 milion fine for illegally sacking ground staff
Federal Court Judge Michal Lee has today imposed a find of AU$90 million, which is at the upper end of the range open to him. That money is to be paid to the Transport Workers Union, and as further compensation to the affected 1,820 workers sacked in 2020. The findings...
2PAXfly
ON-TIME PERFORMANCE: figures do not reflect passenger experience
I recently reported on the on-time performance of Australian airlines as monitored by the ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) for the year up to April 2025. I’ve since read a rather informative article on the Crikey website. The latest ACCC report on domestic aviation handed Qantas a little public...
2PAXfly
ALAN JOYCE: Resurfaces since stepping down as CEO of Qantas amid public outcry
Alan Joyce, former Qantas CEO, has resurfaced on the national stage with the pre-release of a speech he is due to deliver at the Australian Aviation Summit today, Thursday 14 August around 14:30. In the speech, he champions sustainable fuels and the need for training the new aviation workforce. But...
2PAXfly
CONSUMER WATCH: Australia’s domestic air travel has never had more passenger demand, fewer seats or higher fares
If you’ve flown anywhere in Australia lately, you’re not imagining things – the planes are still full, and the fares are even fuller. The latest figures compiled by the ACCC (Australian Competition & Consumer Commission) confirm what many travellers already know: demand is back, supply is still catching up, and...
2PAXfly
SYDNEY AIRPORT: Gun fired in T2, lock down after Police arrest. No in juries reported
An intense scene unfolded this morning around 6am, Wednesday 13 August at Sydney Airport’s Terminal 2 (T2). A man was arrested adjacent to gate 49, metres away from the busy food court. The man had attempted to grab a firearm from an Australian Federal Police (AFP) officer. The incident briefly...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Increasing number of seats flying to the USA
We live in interesting times. While travel agencies are reporting weaker demand for outbound travel to the USA Qantas is expanding its trans-Pacific capacity. Qantas is restoring daily flights on some USA routes and deploying larger aircraft as it predicts more inbound demand, including for the 2026 FIFA World Cup....
2PAXfly
APPLE: AirTag 2 Tracker rumours, including new features and launch date
After nearly four years on the market, Apple’s AirTags tracking accessory is expected to get a long-awaited redesign. Although some airlines initially banned the devices, passengers have widely adopted them. After a deep dive into the latest iPhone operating system, iOS 18.6, programmers have found some code hints lurking within...
2PAXfly
HYATT: ‘Eye of Sauron’ Park Hyatt opens in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
I was in Kuala Lumpur last year — my first time (2024), and could see the building that houses the new Park Hyatt, Kuala Lumpur, in its unfinished state. It was best viewed from the famous Petronis Towers with their stainless steel shells. We named it the ‘Eye of Sauron‘...
2PAXfly
EMIRATES: Bans power bank use onboard from 1 October 2025
Emirates is introducing new safety rules that will ban the use of power banks onboard its flights. The ban is from 1 October 2025. The move comes after a surge in lithium battery-related incidents across the aviation industry. From that date, you can still carry a single power bank, provided...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Public servants wait until Double Status Credits promotions to book official travel
There are obviously some key points and status accumulators in the Australian Public Service. We already know from research done by The Canberra Times that public servants prefer Qantas over Virgin Australia for travel due to their better reward and status benefits. Now, the Finance Department reports anecdotal evidence of...
2PAXfly
BORDER FORCE: Sydney Airport trials digital incoming passenger card
Sydney Airport is trialling a long-awaited move towards digitising one of the most tedious parts of international travel: the Incoming Passenger Card (IPC). From today, eligible passengers on select Qantas flights from New Zealand can complete their arrival declaration online — no more fumbling for pens mid-flight. It’s a small...
2PAXfly
KOALA AIRLINES: Still promision to take off in 2026, still with no aircraft
A new challenger to the duopoly of Qantas and Virgin announced its bid around the time REX Airlines went into liquidation. We haven’t heard a lot from them since, and there has been little to no update on their online information. AI have seen a couple of fairly general interviews...
2PAXfly
TOURISM AUSTRALIA: Launches new AU$130 million campaign with TV commercial
Perhaps it’s because I am Australian and not the target audience, but I can’t help feeling a combination of contradictory emotions — pride mixed with embarrassment — at most of the Tourism Australia campaigns. This new TV commercial is no exception. Judge for yourself: This is apparently the second chapter...
2PAXfly
SYDNEY AIRPORT: T3 – the Qantas terminal to get food and beverage upgrade
Sydney Airport has launched Phase One of its Terminal 3 (T3) dining and retail redevelopment, promising an initial three new food outlets. Terminal tastemaker This first phase promises an eventual 14 new food and beverage venues. The Airport has revealed the first three: Maggio’s, Slim’s Quality Burgers, and Loulou. The...
Wild About Travel
Surviving the Gunfire: How Tragedy Changed My Bangkok Life
Today’s post contains images and descriptions about extreme violence. Reader caution is advised Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, home to around 14 million people is known for its canals, food, parties, temples, culture, and massage. I know the city well. I have spent five years here over the last 12...
2PAXfly
QATAR AIRWAYS: ‘Winter’ schedule includes more flights to Melbourne and a return to Canberra
The Doha-based airline has announced its northern hemisphere global winter schedule, which includes increased flights to more than 15 global destinations. Two of the destinations are Australian. Qatar will start wet leased flight with Virgin Australia to and from Melbourne and resume flights out of Canberra, that will take a...