This Month
Heathrow slot manager beats Qantas and Virgin for Sydney control
UK-based Airport Coordination Limited will manage landing rights at Sydney Airport after wresting control from Australia’s major airlines.
Sydney Airport chief insulated from regulation woes
Readers’ letters on Sydney Airport chief executive Scott Charlton’s complaints over regulation, electric vehicle sales, Anthony Albanese’s superannuation tax plan and the appeal of the teal MPs.
Airport spending doubles to $30 billion. The catch? Higher fares
The Productivity Commission says light touch regulation saves consumers’ hip pockets. But airlines worry that they, and passengers, will foot an epic bill.
January
More disruption warning after strikes cause flight delays
Stoppages by 1000 baggage handlers caused hours of delays to international flights at Sydney Airport, with the union threatening further action.
The 30-year-old law threatening Sydney’s most popular flights
Sydney Airport is intensifying calls for the government to change legislation around Sydney’s curfew as important flights risk running afoul of a legal loophole.
Qantas pips Virgin on on-time flights in otherwise lacklustre year
The two biggest airlines had fewer delays last year compared to 2023 but remain well below long-term averages. Few expect a major change in the next 12 months.
December 2024
Surging international flights leave airports bullish for year ahead
A return of American and Chinese carriers has pushed overseas routes to their highest levels since the pandemic. It may not mean dramatically cheaper fares.
Want to fly international business class every month? Try this job
Christina Werkstetter is Sydney Airport’s secret weapon when it comes to getting new airlines to fly into Australia. The perks aren’t half bad either.
The two things David Gonski will miss as he exits gallery role
The company director ranks getting consensus on the Archibald Prize as one of his toughest gigs, as he hands over the Art Gallery of NSW chairmanship after 16 years.
‘No taxi driver likes Uber much’: Uneasy truce in cabs trial
Uber users in Sydney and Melbourne can now get regular taxis on the app. Cabbies see the benefit, but it is an uneasy truce between the transport arch enemies.
Strap in for a bumpy summer as old planes and surging demand collide
The high number of flight delays and cancellations were meant to have been smoothed out by now. But a crunch in the number of planes is dragging it out.
November 2024
Bailout keeps Rex flying until after election
The $80 million, handed out with little detail, has to go towards making Rex a sustainable player again. The government needs to make a better case for how that will happen.
‘Categorically, we do not slot hoard’: Qantas denies gaming the system
Executives have been challenged over the airline’s dominance at Australia’s busiest airport – Sydney – in peak periods.
Qantas claims network advantage will outgun bulked up Qatar
Qantas international boss Cam Wallace says the wet leasing arrangement that facilitates the partnership between Virgin and Qatar cannot be indefinite.
Airlines bristle at $20k fines for cancelling flights
A Senate inquiry is considering an overhaul of how landing slots are managed at Australia’s busiest airport.
Sydney Airport grass fire follows suspected Qantas engine failure
Flights out of Sydney Airport were in chaos on Friday after engine failure on a Qantas flight forced an emergency landing and appeared to spark a grass fire.
Airports say don’t cut Singapore Airlines out of Virgin-Qatar tie-up
The Australian Airports Association has warned the ACCC that passengers will lose a crucial route to Europe if the Qatar-Virgin tie-up is approved in the proposed format.
October 2024
Who isn’t a member of the Chairman’s Lounge? ABC chief Kim Williams
The ABC chairman was spotted in departures on Wednesday morning.
It’s time to take on our airport monopolists
The increase in landing slots at Sydney Airport should be the cue to reform the other passenger services controlled by monopolistic airports.
Air travellers should reap rewards from Sydney Airport revamp
The Labor government will finally introduce changes to how Sydney Airport operates on Wednesday.