Our Team

Robyn Ironside is The Australian’s aviation writer, and has twice been recognised by the Australasian Aviation Press Club (in 2020 and 2023) as the best aviation journalist. She has been with The Australian since 2018, and covered aviation for News Corp since 2014 after previously reporting on Queensland state politics and crime with The Courier-Mail.

@ironsider

Latest

AviationAviation

Facebook pics of Virgin Australia's The Club which is its VIP lounge that's heading for the chop under new owners Bain Capital.

Corporates join Virgin exodus club

The future of Virgin Australia’s exclusive, invitation-only lounge, is being watched closely by corporate travellers.

Robyn Ironside

AviationAviation

Grounded Qantas aircraft are seen parked at Brisbane Airport in Brisbane, Friday, April 17, 2020. The Australian government has forced airline carriers to cut both their domestic and international flights in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) disease. (AAP Image/Darren England) NO ARCHIVING

‘Frankly ridiculous’: airlines slam fortress Queensland

Qantas and Virgin Australia have both lashed out at the Queensland Government’s border announcement.

Robyn Ironside

CORONAVIRUS CRISISNation

Press Conference. Premier Mark McGowan speaks during a press conference regarding Covid-19 at Dumas House in West Perth. Picture Jackson Flindell The West Australian

Australia’s hardest border set to fall

Australian residents, excluding those in NSW and Victoria, will be able to travel to WA without quarantining as Qantas, Virgin lash Qld’s continued border closure.

Paul Garvey, Robyn Ironside and Sarah Elks

AviationAviation

A Jetstar Airbus A320 passenger jet plane touches down at the Cairns Airport. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

Jetstar investigation to probe debris possibility

An investigation into a flaming engine on an aborted Jetstar flight will consider whether debris on the runway was the cause.

Robyn Ironside

AviationAviation

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 19: A Qantas aircraft prepares to take off from the international terminal of Sydney Airport on March 19, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. Qantas has announced it will ground its entire international fleet, including overseas Jetstar flights, from late March following the government's most recent advice for Australians to avoid travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. The airline will also temporarily stand down two-thirds of it's 30,000 staff until May. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Uluru launch for Qantas scenic flights

Buoyed by the success of its ‘flight to nowhere’, Qantas is rolling out a series of ‘flights to somewhere’ showcasing Australia.

Robyn Ironside

AviationAviation

Sunshine Coast Airport has spread its wings to fly north for the first time ever, officially launching its inaugural Alliance Airlines service to Cairns today. Photo Patrick Woods / Sunshine Coast Daily.

Carrier eyes a greater Alliance

Virgin Australia appears to have found a way to maintain a regional network without suitable aircraft.

Robyn Ironside

AviationAviation

Airside operations team leader Chris McCullen is seen with grounded Virgin Australia aircraft at Brisbane Airport in Brisbane, Tuesday, April 7, 2020. Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) is working with airlines by accommodating up to 100 grounded aircraft free of charge in response to government-mandated travel restrictions that have grounded a significant proportion of Australia's airline fleet because of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). (AAP Image/Darren England) NO ARCHIVING

Virgin engine stoush turns to farce

A legal battle over the return of four jet engines leased by Virgin Australia has descended into comedy.

Robyn Ironside

Queensland batteredNation

A Funnel cloud, at Warwick looking due east toward Killarney, Warwick QLD - MUST CREDIT - Photo Chris McFerran

Eerie ‘funnel cloud’ amid wild weather

More severe storms are forecast in central and southern Queensland as a La Nina weather pattern flexes its muscle.

Robyn Ironside

answers soughtAviation

Passengers walk at the Hamad International Airport in Doha on June 7, 2017. A ban on Qatari flights imposed by Saudi Arabia and its allies took effect as first efforts were made to resolve the biggest feud to hit the Arab world in years. Saudi Arabia and allies including Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain cut diplomatic ties and transport links with Qatar on June 5, accusing the Gulf state of supporting extremism. / AFP PHOTO / STRINGER

Airport searches ‘grossly offensive’

Heading home to Australia on a Qatar Airways flight became a nightmare for female passengers following a total airport shutdown.

Robyn Ironside and Rosie Lewis

Payne demands answersNation

Qatar Airlines is being investigated for the incident in which women were stripserached. Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne, top right, has demanded answers about the insident which occurred at Hamad International Airport in Doha, bottom right.

Outrage as women strip-searched

AFP investigates ‘grossly invasive’ searches of 13 Australian women as it is revealed baby abandoned at Doha airport is alive.

Richard Ferguson, EMILY RITCHIE and Robyn Ironside

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/robyn-ironside/page/186