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Transport

Yesterday

Qantas Airways chief executive at the Macquarie Australia Conference, in conversation with Macquarie analyst Ian Myles.

Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson sees more positive fuel, currency outlook

The chief executive says the airline may benefit from a higher Australian dollar and lower fuel costs as it comes into the new financial year.

This Month

Ex Qantas CEO Alan Joyce.

An Alan Joyce book is being pitched to potential publishers

The former Qantas CEO’s new agent has confirmed plans for a memoir on his corporate career.

Chinese car maker BYD launched its Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute in Australia late in 2024.

BYD selling six times more vehicles than Tesla in Australia

Toyota’s HiLux ute is the top-selling vehicle in Australia for the first time since late 2023, while Elon Musk’s car company is on the slide.

Hamish Douglass has bought a 10.45 per cent share in MotorCycle Holdings, the nation’s largest retailer and wholesaler of motorcycles.

Hamish Douglass revs up his portfolio with MotorCycle Holdings

Don’t expect to see the Magellan Financial Group co-founder cruising on a chopper any time soon, but he is convinced that this two-wheel business has plenty of value.

Anne Maree Crivelli has postponed her trip to the United States.

Tourists are shunning America. That’s great for Australia

With travellers increasingly looking for alternatives to the US, there is an opportunity for Down Under’s long-suffering tourism industry to pick up business.

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April

A Virgin Australia plane at Sydney Airport. International travellers miss out of lounge access even if they are frequent fliers.

The hidden flaw in Virgin’s frequent flyer program

The Bain Capital-owned airline is building up its Velocity scheme to compete with Qantas’ popular program. But there is a catch for international fliers.

Robyn Denholm’s family office wants to help charities.

Robyn Denholm’s ‘simply absurd’ family office legal fight

For someone who has made her career advising tech and telco companies, the Tesla chair is failing at trademark claims.

Chinese shipping containers in the United Kingdom. Cargo volumes across the board are expected to fall as trade tariff uncertainty lowers demand this year.

Trump’s trade war creates worse shipping turmoil than the pandemic

One of the world’s most respected maritime analytics firms says global container volumes will fall this year for only the third time in almost five decades.

CATL displays some of its technology at an event in Shanghai this week.

China’s CATL overtakes BYD on 5-minute EV charging time

The company claimed this week that a new version of its flagship cell can achieve a 520km range in the same time, compared with its rival’s 470km.

Honda Accord hybrid versus Toyota Camry hybrid

Some hybrid cars thirstier than their petrol peers

Tests on Australian roads show some hybrid models use more fuel than standard vehicles.

The Port of Los Angeles in the US. The port is forecasting a 10 per cent fall in volumes later this year.

Shipping giants face surging demand before tariffs hit global freight

Executives at big maritime transport businesses and ports warn consumers could get hit with higher prices as importers scramble “to get cargo in under the wire”.

Virgin Australia aircraft in Sydney.

Virgin to pay 61,000 flyers refunds for overpricing

The airline mistakenly charged people too much when they tried to change their flight plans.

Velocity Frequent Flyer CEO Nick Rohrlach said the new benefits are designed to make travel more rewarding and seamless for Velocity members and give them more reason to fly Virgin Australia on their long haul international trips.
“We know our members value great rewards when they fly and our expanded benefits on these new services to Doha deliver exactly that - more upgrade options, more perks, and a better travel experience,” Rohrlach said.

What the Virgin-Qatar deal means for your Velocity points

The winners and losers from new long-haul loyalty scheme arrangements are taking shape.

Virgin Australia aircraft in Sydney. The company hopes to be listed on the ASX by June.

Virgin board overhaul brings in Qatar executive, ex-Macquarie chairman

The airline has formally appointed Peter Warne – among others – as a director, two years after he was first announced, as it prepares to rejoin the ASX.

President Donald Trump steps out of a red Model S Tesla vehicle on the South Lawn of the White House Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Washington. (Pool via AP)

Six things to know before buying an EV

Prices are falling across the market, with Tesla models up to $20,000 cheaper than two years ago, and BYD making strong inroads.

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Both leaders have pledged to take control of the Port of Darwin from Chinese firm Landbridge.

Why Darwin Port struggles to excite potential buyers

Chinese firm Landbridge won an auction with 33 interested parties in 2015 for the tricky and political Port of Darwin. It was a very different time to now.

Donald Trump and Elon Musk speak to reporters as they sit in the Tesla Model S.

Tesla car sales in Australia plummet 53pc in March

A downturn in Tesla vehicle sales in Australia is mirroring the rest of the world, with the BYD brand making strong headway.

Jess Sier and Tony Davis on The Fin.

Has Elon Musk crashed Tesla out of the EV race?

This week on The Fin podcast, Jessica Sier and Tony Davis on Tesla’s challenges, the rise of BYD and whether a five-minute battery charge could be a game changer.

Kelsian is selling its K’gari assets as it looks to more defensive assets.

Captain Cook Cruises, SeaLink on the market in Kelsian review

The company is one of the country’s largest tourism and transport operators. It says it is considering selling some of its businesses to pay down debts.

Virgin Australia aircraft in Sydney. The company hopes to be listed on the ASX by June.

Virgin plans June listing as it restructures into a public company

The Bain Capital-controlled airline’s executives have begun weeks of meeting with prospective investors in a roadshow that is billed as a business update.

March

Advertising executive and Qantas board director Todd Sampson.

Advertising expert Todd Sampson resigns from Qantas board

The airline has appointed former HP chief executive Dion Weisler in his place, meaning five of seven directors have been installed in the last three years.

A Virgin Australia Boeing 737 in Sydney. The airline is hoping to re-list on the ASX.

Virgin kicks off IPO process, hires investor relations team

Bain Capital is preparing the way for the airline to return to the ASX after five years, with the carrier’s management meeting prospective investors on Tuesday.

Virgin and Qatar have cleared the final hurdle to take off on new flights in June.

ACCC greenlights Virgin-Qatar deal, frequent flyer partners cut back

The competition watchdog has approved the tie-up, but questions remain over whether consumers have been dudded by the exclusivity clause.

Qantas chief executive Vanessa Hudson has lunch with the AFR’s Ayesha de Kretser at the Airbus factory in Hamburg, Germany.

Why Vanessa Hudson’s kids didn’t want her to be Qantas CEO

The airline boss opens up about career timing, why it’s OK to be wrong, and why the timetable for fleet renewal is fine, thank you very much.

Alibaba Group Holding and BMW AG will team up to produce AI for cars in China.

Alibaba teams up with BMW to develop AI for cars in China

BMW is building a new intelligent personal assistant with enhanced voice recognition and trip-planning features to be rolled out next year.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/companies/transport