2PAXfly
NEW ROUTES 2026: Cathay Pacific returns to Adelaide November 2025
This seasonal route actually recommenced on 11 November 2025 and runs through until 27 March 2026. I’m including it, since it is very recent, and it will appear seasonally, returning in 2026 Introduction For years, Adelaide travellers learned to accept the ritual of having to haul their suitcases to Sydney...
2PAXfly
NEW ROUTES 2026: Turkish Airlines plays long game—Australia’s almost-direct route to Europe
There are some exciting developments of routes that Australians can take between East Coast Australia and Europe. Some are non-traditional, some use newly available ultra long haul aircraft, and some are just airlines with extra aircraft expanding their route structures to add the continent of Australia to their network. This...
Wild About Travel
Understanding Cabin and Fare Classes to Unlock Airline Miles
As a frequent flier, I hold status in three programs: Virgin Australia, Qantas (oneworld), and Turkish (Star Alliance), and I juggle credits across all of them. I need to know, actually, how many miles I am getting or not getting when I am booking flight choices. For example, last year...
2PAXfly
AUSTRALIANS: Where and what kind of trouble they get into overseas
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) has just released its State of Play report for the period 2023-24 period. The facts sheets make for interesting reading. It shows that Australians request consular services mostly when they get into trouble in Thailand (827). Second comes Indonesia (546), followed by the...
2PAXfly
WEEKLY REVIEW: Sunday, 15 February, 2026
Hope your weekend and Valentine’s Day celebrations have been as satisfying as mine. Below is a summary of the stories that appeared in the 2PAXfly blog over the last week. ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES: Launches flights to Melbourne, Australia in 2028 By 2paxfly on 14 Feb 2026 11:00 amEthiopian Airlines, a Star...
2PAXfly
ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES: Launches flights to Melbourne, Australia in 2028
Ethiopian Airlines, Star Alliance member and Africa’s largest airline, is reported as having confirmed it is targeting 2028 for its Australian debut. Group CEO Mesfin Tasew says the carrier will need roughly two years to secure the wide-body aircraft required for the ultra-long-haul mission to Australia’s east coast. “We will...
Wild About Travel
Chasing Frequent Flyer Status in a Stacked System
For context: I’m a frequent flyer who maintains status across multiple programs: primarily Virgin Australia Platinum, Qantas Platinum, and Star Alliance Gold. This isn’t unique. Many frequent flyers play multiple programs to maximise coverage and benefits. Are you one of them? Virgin Australia has been one of my “main homes”...
2PAXfly
WESTERN SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL: Preparing of passenger takeoff in October 2026
After years of construction, political debate and plenty of scepticism, Western Sydney International (WSI) is preparing to open for passengers later this year. Cargo flights are expected to commence mid-year The airport, built at Badgerys Creek and designed to operate 24 hours a day without a curfew, is positioning itself...
Wild About Travel
Terrific Turku, Finland’s Historical Capital. All You Need to Know
Turku is a low-key river city known for its university life and as a gateway to medieval Finland and the beautiful Turku Archipelago. Turku has tens of thousands of students across multiple universities and this creates a fun, youthful atmosphere. Quality‑of‑life index scores Turku slightly higher than Helsinki overall (Turku...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: I know when the next double status promotion is going to start.
Let’s start by confessing that the headline is a lie. No one knows when the promo will drop, except a small group within the Qantas promo team! What I am about to present is just speculation, some of which is my own, and some is drawn from the knowledge and...
2PAXfly
AUSTRALIA: Airlines claim passenger protections ‘unworkable’. Surprise!
Australia’s airlines are pushing back hard against the federal government’s proposed aviation consumer protections, warning the reforms are “unworkable”, confusing, and will push up airfares. Not very imaginative arguments, and ones that every consumer protection initiative has faced. What’s the government proposing? The government, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese,...
Wild About Travel
A Moomin Pilgrimage Through 80 Years of Finnish Magic
I just spent two amazing weeks in Finland, which remains one of my favourite countries in the world. This trip: Helsinki, Rovaniemi, and Turku. I’m still processing everything I experienced. The timber architecture of Rovaniemi, the frozen Baltic where ships should be, and now this: my Moomin pilgrimage across 80...
2PAXfly
WEEKLY REVIEW: Sunday, 8 February 2026
Hope your weekend has been as good as mine. Below is a summary of stories that appeared in the blog over the last week. QANTAS: Gets A321XLR configuration very wrong. Too few loos. By 2paxfly on 06 Feb 2026 12:17 pmWhen Qantas began introducing its new Airbus A321XLRs, the focus...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Gets A321XLR configuration very wrong. Too few loos.
When Qantas began introducing its new Airbus A321XLRs, the focus was on longer range, larger overhead bins, and a more modern onboard experience. Instead, they got one incredibly basic thing wrong. It has become the talking point amongst passengers. That is, not enough toilets, or colloquially, ‘too few loos’. For...
2PAXfly
QANTAS: Refreshing 7 regional lounges after closure
If you rely on Qantas’ regional lounges for a quiet coffee, a power point and a bit of pre-flight calm, there’s good and bad news. Your lounge is likely being refreshed and may be closed for a few weeks. Qantas has been active on the lounge front, with the most...
2PAXfly
EUROPE: Carry on bags to become free on low-cost carriers
Budget carriers like easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air have built their ultra-low headline fares on optional extras, especially baggage fees. But now the European Parliament has taken a strong stance in favour of passengers being allowed to bring more on board for free — and it has triggered a fierce...