When Jetstar chief executive Gareth Evans steps down from Qantas’ budget offshoot in the new year, he will become the fourth succession candidate in six years to depart the Flying Kangaroo.

His predecessor – and former rival to Qantas’ throne – Jayne Hrdlicka left in 2017, and now runs Virgin Australia. Experienced executives Alison Webster and Tino La Spina (both Qantas International chiefs) also called it quits over the following years, despite their own weighty claims to lead the airline next.