RAAF takes Australia Day flight as Qantas and Virgin Australia stay silent on national day

Virgin and Qantas have gone silent on our national day with not so much as a tweet of acknowledgment, leaving the aerial displays to the defence force.

Australia’s major airlines have pointedly gone silent on Australia Day without so much as a “tweet” of acknowledgment, leaving the air force and navy to draw revellers’ eyes skywards.

In the past Qantas, which lays claim to the title of national carrier, has sent an A380 over Sydney Harbour to mark January 26 and handed out Tim-Tams to passengers at baggage carousels, while Virgin Australia served meat pies and lamingtons in its lounges.

Last year Rex used the occasion to promote its move onto capital city routes, sending a Boeing 737 over Sydney’s CBD in celebration of the national day.

At the time, Rex deputy chairman John Sharp described it as a “great honour” to be taking part in Australia Day celebrations but this year nothing was planned.

Although none of the airlines would provide an explanation for the lack of acknowledgment, growing sensitivity around the date is believed to have contributed to the silence, along with the ongoing challenges of the Covid pandemic.

In contrast, the Royal Australian Air Force scheduled a number of fly-pasts in the skies above New South Wales, plus a flying display over Sydney Harbour.

These included an aerobatic display by an F-35A Lightning II aircraft from midday, and fly-pasts by a C-130J Hercules over Raymond Terrace and Windsor.

A Navy MH-60R Seahawk “Romeo” helicopter displaying a giant Australian national flag provided additional air displays along Sydney’s coastline and harbour, with the defence force declaring it was “proud to participate in Australia Day 2022 events”.

“Australia Day is held annually on January 26 to reflect on our nation’s past and celebrate the Australian spirit, mateship and sense of community,” said a statement from the defence force.

In Victoria, the RAAF’s aerobatic team the Roulettes thrilled crowds in Melbourne’s CBD, while Townsville was treated to a fly-past by a RAAF C-27J Spartan.

A C-17A III Globemaster did the honours in Canberra, and several flying displays featuring Pilatus PC-21s wowed West Australians in Perth and Subiaco.

Airlines on the other hand limited their activities to regular public transport services where the usual “Australiana” treats were notably absent, due no doubt to budget restraints as much as political correctness.

The Omicron outbreak in December severely curtailed operations for Qantas, Virgin and Rex, resulting in thousands of flight cancellations and reduced demand.

In response Qantas wound back its domestic capacity from 100 per cent of pre-Covid levels to 60 per cent, despite standing up all staff last month.

The airline will deliver its half-year results for the 2022 financial year next month, with a before tax loss of about $300 million predicted by Macquarie.