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Air travel

Yesterday

A Qantas Airbus A380 at Sydney Airport. A shortage of planes means airfares are unlikely to fall dramatically over the next year.

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.

  • Jenny Wiggins

This Month

CFA firefighters complete a planned burn in Dunkeld ahead of forecast dangerous bushfire conditions on Boxing Day.

‘Ready to burn’: Australians urged to avoid Boxing Day travel

Firefighters are battling blazes across the country and millions of people are being warned to stay alert as the risk of Christmas-week bushfires intensifies.

  • Holly Hales, Kaitlyn Offer and Will Ton
The Lazareth North and Astrid emperor penguin colonies, both of which were only discovered in the past two years.

Forget cruises, the only way to see Antarctica is to go ‘deep field’

For a taste of the frozen continent made legend by names such as Scott, Amundsen, Shackleton and Mawson, you have to venture into its heart.

  • Ronald Mizen
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during the final parliamentary sitting week of the year.

‘Albo knows best’: Inside Labor’s discontent with PM

A series of missteps has raised questions about Anthony Albanese’s judgment. Is he too confident in his own instincts?

  • Ronald Mizen
High-net-worth spenders are focussing more on experiences than luxury goods, according to analysis by Morgan Stanley.

Qantas hits record as cashed-up Baby Boomers ditch handbags for travel

A pivot in luxury spending from designer goods to premium travel is expected to benefit Australia’s largest airline, according to Morgan Stanley, saying the stock has much further to run.

  • Joshua Peach
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November

Webjet

Webjet misled customers on fares for years, says ACCC

The online travel agency allegedly charged one customer $21,764 more after the booking had been made. Webjet says it is cooperating with the regulator.

  • Ayesha de Kretser

Meet the frequent flyer fintech targeting a $2.6 trillion market

The fastest growing fintechs in this year’s Fast 100 are an eclectic mix with a common trait: they’ve carved out niches for uniquely Australian audiences.

  • Ayesha de Kretser

How a yearning for travel grew a 35-year-old overnight success

Diversification has been key to the success of these three fast-growing retail and travel businesses.

  • Sue Mitchell
Lonely Planet founders Tony and Maureen Wheeler.

Lonely Planet founders not content with giving away half their wealth

Tony and Maureen Wheeler are doubling down on their commitment to Melbourne’s Wheeler Centre with a big commitment to match donations.

  • Yolanda Redrup
r the technology sector, a trend that is captured by technology themed ETFs.

Deloitte made me do it: CEO throws auditor under the bus

 A weekend call from the auditors sent the $1.7 billion Web Travel into a spin.

  • Anthony Macdonald
Webjet has gone from one company with its act together to two stragglers.

Wheels fall off the ASX’s new ‘Ferrari’

If the deal was about letting a sports car out of the garage, it drove straight into a freezer. A potential accounting issue is the last thing it needed.

  • Anthony Macdonald
The changes to Velocity will reward big spenders but make it harder for some flyers to accrue points.

Etihad rips up Virgin frequent flier partnership after Qatar deal

The Bain Capital-backed airline has told the ACCC that it will retain alliance arrangements with Singapore Airlines despite its new major shareholder.

  • Updated
  • Fiona Carruthers and Ayesha de Kretser
WA Truffle farmer David Pottinger with his dog Polly.

WA black truffles go global as cargo flights become Michelin missions

The delicacies lose 2 per cent to 3 per cent of their weight every day they sit in storage, meaning exporters are beholden to securing reliable deliveries.

  • Ayesha de Kretser
A grassfire broke out at Sydney Airport after reports of an explosion on a plane.

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.

  • Updated
  • Ayesha de Kretser
A private jet in Dallas, Texas, earlier this year. There has been a surge in their use, with the US by far the most popular destination.

Private jet use jumps – and so do emissions (even to a climate summit)

A peer-reviewed study has found carbon emissions have risen almost 50 per cent in four years, and wealthy Australians are disproportionately represented.

  • Ayesha de Kretser
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Singapore Airlines uses the Airbus A350-900 to fly the world’s longest non-stop route.

Sneak peek at Singapore Airlines’ new-look business and first class

Airlines are racing to offer premium travellers better seats, food and service ahead of Qantas starting direct flights to Europe and the US east coast in 2026.

  • Ayesha de Kretser
No matter what class you’re flying, your health can still be affected by the experience.

What happens to your body on a plane – and six ways to stay healthy

You endure physiological and psychological disturbances during a flight. Follow these tips to avoid alighting bloated, dehydrated and exhausted.

  • David Cox

October

Robert Chamberlain’s Huno Group made a $78.8 million net profit in 2024.

Travel surge cements Young Rich Lister’s new billionaire status

Robert Chamberlain’s Huno Group enjoyed a 25 per cent jump in revenue to more than $232 million, while net profit hit $78.8 million.

  • Yolanda Redrup
Author Joe Aston and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Albanese faces calls for probe into flight upgrades

David Pocock and Peter Dutton have both called for a probe into whether Anthony Albanese breached the ministerial code of conduct while he was transport minister.

  • Ronald Mizen
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese did not declare flight upgrades gifted to his former wife Carmel Tebbutt by Qantas and Emirates.

Albanese did not declare Qantas flight upgrades given to his ex-wife

The prime minister did not declare upgrades gifted to his former wife on flights they took for personal travel to Europe, Los Angeles and Honolulu.

  • Ronald Mizen

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/air-travel-5u7