Ready, steady go: freight flights baptise new Western Sydney airport

The new Western Sydney International Airport will see its first passenger departures and arrivals on October 25, but commercial air freight flights are already operating.

Qantas and Australia Post, who have extended their 100-year air freight partnership for a further 10 years, will today operate their first commercial freight flight at WSI (Nancy Bird Walton) Airport, officially opening the new 24/7 cargo terminal.

Australia Post parcels will be on the first service, QF7340, departing WSI at 10.25pm for Brisbane.

Qantas Freight expects to move more than 160,000 parcels through the 24,000 square metre facility in its first 24 hours, with 12 arrivals overnight from 10pm.

Domestic services will operate to and from WSI to Melbourne, Cairns, Adelaide, Brisbane, Gold Coast and Perth, as well as onward flights to regional centres, processing more than 850 tonnes of freight a week. 

Qantas international flights are expected to begin early next year.

Qantas Freight will operate a dedicated fleet of two A330 freighters and six A321 freighters, with three more on the way, plus priority space in the cargo hold of more than 300 aircraft across the Qantas passenger fleet. 

Qantas’ freight network serves more than 110 destinations across Australia and around the world.

The Qantas and Australia Post partnership dates back to November 1922, when Qantas flew 106 letters on behalf of Australia Post on its inaugural commercial flight from Charleville to Cloncurry in Queensland.

Qantas CEO of International and Freight Cam Wallace and Australia Post Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Paul Graham were on site to officially open the new freight terminal.

"Australians are increasingly reliant on airfreight with the continued growth of e-commerce and we’re proud to be extending our partnership with Australia Post," Wallace says.

“We’ve transformed our freighter fleet over the past few years, with newer, larger and more efficient aircraft to support Australia Post and their customers’ needs.

“It’s a historic day for aviation in Australia as our first freight services take off from Western Sydney International Airport. This new terminal will help us meet growing demand for next-day deliveries and move express cargo across Australia and the world.

"Western Sydney International is a major piece of infrastructure for this country and we're proud to be opening our new freight terminal and comes ahead of Jetstar's first passenger services in October and Qantas to follow early next year."

Bali plans major airport upgrade

Bali is to get a much better airport. 

The Indonesian Ministry of Transportation has announced its intention to upgrade and revitalise Ngurah Rai International Airport to handle 32 million domestic and international passengers by 2031, newsletter Bali Update reports.

​The airport’s current rated annual passenger handling capacity is 25 million.

Both the Ministry of Transportation and the state-owned airport management company PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia (InJourney Airport) have been instructed to accelerate planning and implementation, as part of efforts to expand and enhance the airport’s facilities to accommodate a projected influx of 32 million in the early 2030s.

​With a rapid post-Covid pandemic recovery, the island’s airport is expected to handle 24.9 million tourists in 2026. 

​A surge in passenger traffic is driven by new international airlines opening regular direct routes to Bali, including Etihad, Saudia Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, and T'Way Air.

​As a result, increasingly congested flight slots have made it urgent to strengthen air connectivity by expanding airport capacity to support equitable Island development.

​”We see that the number of passengers at I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport has now reached around 24.9 million per year, even exceeding the pre-Covid-19 pandemic level,” said Minister of Transportation Dudy Purwagandhi.

”Through airport capacity expansion, we hope this number can increase to around 32 million passengers, thereby supporting equitable development.”

​Because land is limited in South Bali, the government and airport operators have agreed to maximize existing infrastructure and facilities rather than build a massive new terminal.

Vietnam gets set to open new international airport

Anyone flying into Ho Chi Minh City from December 1 might find themselves landing at a brand new airport.

Vietnamese authorities are preparing to open Long Thanh International Airport on December 1. 

This will set the stage for a gradual transfer of most international flights from Ho Chi Minh City’s overloaded Tan Son Nhat Airport, news hub Travel Mole reports.

The US$12.8 billion project is the largest and most expensive airport development in Vietnam’s history.

Located some 40km east of Ho Chi Minh City CBD in Dong Nai Province, Long Thanh is expected to become the country’s primary international gateway. 

State-owned Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), which is developing the airport, aims to establish Long Thanh as a regional transit hub capable of attracting long-haul connecting traffic that currently flows through airports such as Singapore Changi, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi and Kuala Lumpur International.

The airport will accommodate 25 million passengers annually during its first phase, with future expansions eventually increasing capacity to 100 million passengers per year. 

The first phase is primarily intended to relieve congestion at Tan Son Nhat Airport, which has operated beyond its designed capacity for years.

ACV has proposed a three-stage transition plan that would move more than 90% of Ho Chi Minh City’s international passenger traffic to Long Thanh in 2027.

From December, the airport will handle all long-haul international services, cargo operations, newly launched international routes and additional frequencies. 

Domestic operations will continue primarily from Tan Son Nhat. 

Virgin Australia offers flyers more flexibility

Don't you hate it when you arrive at their airport early and your carrier has two earlier flights to your destination. 

You either pay up to catch an earlier flight, or sit around for an hour or two until your scheduled flight departs. 

No more waiting if you are booked on an eligible fare with Australian carrier Virgin Australia. 

Virgin is the only Australian airline to offer eligible guests travelling on a domestic economy flex fare the ability to access Fly Ahead, enabling them to switch to an available earlier same-day flight through the Virgin Australia app, with no change fee or fare difference.

The new app feature offers a significant shift from traditional flexible fares, which typically require travellers to pay a change fee and fare difference when changing flights. 

Virgin Australia Fly Ahead can offer savings for frequent travellers, particularly those flying for business.

The value of that added flexibility is already clear, with data showing more than 44,000 Virgin Australia guests moved to earlier flights over the past 12 months, saving a combined 143,000 hours in airport dwell time. 

Expanding the Fly Ahead app feature, launched for high-tier Velocity Frequent Flyer members in May 2026, to domestic economy flex fare guests means more travellers can get on their way sooner. 

Virgin Australia group executive Libby Minogue says the expansion of Fly Ahead reflects the airline's commitment to listening to guests and delivering meaningful flexibility.

"At Virgin Australia, we listen closely to our guests, and one thing we hear consistently, particularly from our business travellers, is that they want more flexibility and control when plans change," Minogue says. 

"That's why we're proud to be the only Australian airline offering superior flexibility to our flex ticket holders, allowing them to switch to an available earlier same-day flight via the Virgin Australia app, without incurring a change fee or fare difference. 

"The change will help our guests get home sooner, make an earlier meeting or maximise their time."

For more info visit here.

Qantas boosts services to Japan

Qantas is going all in on flights between Australia and Japan.

The Australian flag carrier has increased services between Melbourne and Tokyo and added more seats across the Tasman as Japan and New Zealand continue to be popular destinations for Australian travellers.

More than 45,000 seats will be added to Tokyo and Queenstown by early next year.

Qantas has increased its Melbourne-Narita services from daily to 11 flights per week from December 2026 to March 2027 in response to growing demand. 

The new flights will add a total of 30,000 seats to the route.

Japan continues to be a favourite for Qantas customers, with passenger numbers up 8% between October 2025 and March 2026, totalling 350,000 passengers for the period.

In addition, the airline is increasing frequency across the Tasman over the summer peak for travel between Australia and New Zealand, including over 15,000 additional seats between Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane to Queenstown over the summer peak.

Qantas CEO International Cam Wallace said: 
“Japan remains one of the most popular destinations on our international network and is showing no signs of slowing down, with more than half a million Australians visiting between January and May this year alone.

"Adding more capacity out of Melbourne means more Aussies can experience one of the world's great travel destinations, whether they're heading there for the first time or going back for more.”

There was also enthusiasm from Japan National Tourism Oraganization Sydney Office Executive Director Naoki Kitazawa. 

"We're delighted to see even more flights between Melbourne and Narita, further strengthening ties between Australia and Japan,” Kitazawa said. 

“Last year we marked an exciting milestone, with over one million Australians visiting Japan.

“We hope that even more people will be inspired to come and experience Japan.”

Air Asia remains upbeat

The airline industry has different positions on the future, but AirAsia X says it remains encouraged by resilient travel demand across key markets, supported by ongoing regional stabilisation. 

The budget airline said this week that it continues to focus on strengthening operational performance and network efficiency, building a more scalable operating model across the network.

The group is progressively restoring aircraft frequencies and capacity across its network, with full capacity expected by August 2026. 

It has announced services to several new destinations, including Busan, Bahrain, London, Batam and other domestic destinations. 

Bo Lingam, Group CEO of AirAsia Group said: "Over the past several months, we have been reminded that resilience is not built during easy times but through how we respond to challenges. 

"Throughout this period, the group remained focused on strengthening our operations, improving efficiency and accelerating the adoption of AI and data-driven tools to support better decision-making and smarter execution across the business. 

"Today, we are a stronger, more agile and more focused ecosystem because of it."

Qantas unveils Project Sunrise details

 

Flying Sydney to London non stop. 

Not for me, thanks, but it is easy to see why Qantas' unveiling of its Project Sunrise program has created so much excitement. 

Qantas will launch its world-first non-stop services between Sydney and London from October 2027. 

The announcement came as the Australian national carrier unveiled its first Airbus A350-1000ULR in Qantas livery at Airbus’ manufacturing facility in Toulouse. 

Qantas has been flying between Sydney and London since 1947, when the original Kangaroo Route took four days with seven stops in Darwin, Singapore, Calcutta, Karachi, Cairo, Castel Benito and Rome. 

The new non-stop flights will cut up to four hours off the travel time compared to current one-stop services with a time of around 22 hours. These ultra long-haul services will operate alongside Qantas’ existing Perth-London and Sydney-Singapore-London services. 

The first Project Sunrise Sydney to London services will go on sale in February 2027, the airline says.

The A350-1000ULR has been specifically manufactured by Airbus for Project Sunrise, fitted with an additional 20,000-litre fuel tank that enables the aircraft to fly more than 16,000 kilometres, for up to 22 hours non-stop. 

Qantas will take delivery of 12 aircraft in total, each configured with 238 seats across four cabins.

Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said confirmation of the launch route marks a new dawn of travel for customers around the world.

“Qantas was built on the belief that Australia's distance from the rest of the world should never stand in the way," Hudson says. "The pioneering spirit of generations of our people has forged that path ever since, and today is the most significant step in that mission in our 105-year history.

“Since we first flew the Kangaroo Route in 1947, where we stopped seven times on the way to London, every generation of aircraft has taken a stop out of the journey. Today, we're taking out the last one."

I like a stop or two en route. A meal, maybe, a massage, even an overnight sleep. But for many speed in of the essence and this fits their needs. 

Since 2018, more than 1.7 million passengers have flown on Qantas' non-stop long-haul services from Perth to London, Rome and Paris, and its Melbourne to Dallas and Auckland to New York services. 

New flights link Hanoi direct to Amsterdam

Vietnam Airlines has officially inaugurated its non-stop service between Hanoi and Amsterdam, becoming the first Vietnamese carrier to operate a direct route connecting Vietnam and the Netherlands.

The new service marks a significant milestone in the airline's international network expansion strategy and further strengthens air links between Vietnam and Europe.The initial flight, VN83, departed Noi Bai International Airport at 3:50 AM on June 16, carrying nearly 300 passengers aboard an Airbus A350 wide-body aircraft.

After a flight time of more than 12 hours, the aircraft landed at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. In the opposite direction, flight VN82 departed Amsterdam for Hanoi at 2:00 PM on the same day.

Vietnam Airlines will operate three round-trip flights per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

"The inauguration of the Hanoi-Amsterdam service reflects Vietnam Airlines' continued commitment to expanding its international network and strengthening Vietnam's connectivity with key global markets," said Nguyen Quang Trung, executive vice president of Vietnam Airlines.

"This new route not only offers Vietnamese travellers more convenient access to Europe, but also facilitates greater travel to Vietnam for international visitors.

"As the national flag carrier, we will continue investing in service excellence and network development to meet evolving customer demand and further reinforce our role as an air bridge linking Vietnam with the world."

The new route also strengthens Vietnam Airlines' presence in Europe. With the addition of Amsterdam, Vietnam Airlines now operates 12 non-stop routes linking Vietnam with eight major European destinations: Paris, London, Frankfurt, Munich, Milan, Copenhagen, Moscow and Amsterdam.

And from July 1, Vietnam Airlines will increase the frequency of its Hanoi–Moscow service from three to four round-trip flights per week.

Qantas and Jetstar confirm flights from new Western Sydney Airport

Qantas and Jetstar will use the new Western Sydney International Airport to link to some of Australia's most popular domestic destinations.

Jetstar will launch the first commercial passenger service when Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI) opens on Sunday, October 25.

The Qantas Group and WSI today announced they had finalised a five-year agreement for domestic passenger flights and freight that will enable both airlines to build their schedule as demand for services grows in Western Sydney.

Jetstar will make history when JQ362 departs at 11am on October 25 to the Gold Coast. The airline will operate up to 14 flights a week between WSI and Melbourne, four weekly flights to the Gold Coast and three weekly flights to Brisbane. All flights will be operated by Airbus A320 aircraft.

Qantas operations will begin on March 28, 2027, with four flights per week to both Melbourne and Brisbane on a QantasLink Embraer E190.

Qantas will also be one of the first commercial airlines to fly from the airport when its inaugural freighter service takes off from WSI’s 24-hour Cargo Precinct on the evening of Monday, July 27.

All flights will be in addition to current services from Sydney Airport (Kingsford Smith).

“This is a major milestone for Australian aviation and one that has been years in the making," says Qantas Group Chief Executive Officer Vanessa Hudson.

"We’re incredibly proud that Jetstar will be the first Australian airline to begin operations at Western Sydney International Airport and Qantas will follow early next year.

“We’re excited by the potential of Western Sydney International Airport to spur local tourism and make aviation more accessible for millions of people in Western Sydney, who currently have to travel to Kingsford Smith to catch a flight.

“Jetstar has an incredible history of growing new markets and being the first airline to launch will give one of the country’s fastest growing regions better access to low fares to some of our most popular destinations.

“We know there’s growing demand for customers in Western Sydney and we’re proud to be working with Gold Coast Airport and Tourism and Events Queensland to make our services to South-East Queensland a reality."

Qatar Airways reports big profit despite headwinds

Qatar Airways Group has announced a post-tax profit of US $1.94 billion for financial year 2025-26.

The Middle East carrier says the results "demonstrate a robust performance against a final month impacted by significant geopolitical events" despite a 7% drop in profits.

The Virgin Australia partner said it "continued to develop, innovate and provide world-class services and experiences to passengers and businesses".

The airline carried more than 41.8 million passengers, maintaining extensive global connectivity through Hamad International Airport. while the airline's cargo division advanced its position as the world’s largest air freight carrier with a 12% global market share.

Qatar Airways also maintained industry‑leading punctuality, achieving an 86% on‑time performance, placing it among the top five most punctual carriers worldwide.

"It is not often that a single financial year asks an organisation to demonstrate both the best of what it can achieve and the depth of what it can withstand," said Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer Hamad Al-Khater.

"The 2025-26 financial year [ending March 31] did both, and the Qatar Airways Group rose to each in turn.

"These results speak to the strength of this Group across every measure that matters - a strong balance sheet, industry-leading operations, partnerships of real depth, and people who maintained the standards this group is known for, even under the most demanding conditions.

"Behind every result are 57,800 people, working across more than 90 countries. In the final weeks of the financial year, many of them were managing an active crisis with a standard of professionalism that defines this organisation as much as any financial metric, and it deserves to be recognised.

"We are actively rebuilding our global network with the confidence that comes from a balance sheet that has never been stronger, partnerships that proved their depth when we needed them most, and an organisation that has demonstrated, under genuine pressure, exactly what it is capable of.”

Top chef Emett signs with Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand has signed up celebrated New Zealand chef Josh Emett as its new culinary ambassador. 

Emett is the only New Zealand chef to have collected Michelin stars across three different restaurants in London, New York, and Los Angeles in his time with Gordon Ramsay.

He is co-owner of Onslow restaurant in Auckland, the Oyster Inn on Waiheke Island and Gilt Brasserie in Auckland.

In this new role, Emett will focus on showcasing New Zealand produce, hospitality and elevated cuisine across the Air New Zealand premium dining experience. Tough luck for those in economy. 

As part of the new partnership, he will design a selection of signature dishes to feature alongside Air New Zealand's existing onboard menu across premium economy, business premier and business premier luxe, on all long-haul flights out of Auckland and on select flights from North America.

From October, customers travelling in the airline's premium cabins will have the opportunity to indulge in Emett's new menu items with dishes showcasing the ingredients that make New Zealand food so special.

Emett says it was the opportunity to showcase the best of New Zealand that drove him to take on the role.

“This is about taking what New Zealand does best out into the world. I started with the ingredients I love, like New Zealand lamb and venison, and built from there with seasonal vegetables and flavours that travel well at altitude. The result is food that feels elegant, refined and distinctly Kiwi," he says.

“There's a lot to consider when creating dishes that are to be enjoyed in the skies. Lower air pressure, humidity and even background noise change how we experience flavour, so you have to think carefully about how dishes are built, from seasoning through to texture and balance.

“You'll see bolder flavours in the dishes, whether it's the richness of a pinot-braised chicken or the intensity of a miso dressing. It's about making sure every dish delivers, even at 35,000-feet. 

“New Zealand ingredients are world class. Onboard an Air New Zealand aircraft is one of the first places people experience our country, so I want these dishes to reflect that - simple, delicious food that lets the produce speak and tells a story about where it comes from.”

Dishes from Emett's onboard selection will include seared venison with golden kūmara chutney, kawakawa-spiced beetroot and toasted pinenuts, as well as smoked kahawai mousse, red onion and celery pickle and toasted sourdough.

Air New Zealand chief customer and digital officer Jeremy O'Brien says the airline's culinary teams will work closely with Emett and local producers to reflect the diversity of New Zealand's regions on the menu, with a strong focus on seasonality and quality.

“As New Zealand's national airline, we're proud to represent the very best of New Zealand every time someone steps onboard,” O'Brien says.

“Food is a massive part of that. It can shape how people feel about their journey, and it's one of the moments we know our customers look forward to most.

“In Josh, we've partnered with a chef who is not only world class, but a true ambassador for New Zealand food. This is about more than a menu. it's about creating a uniquely kiwi experience that our customers will remember long after the flight.”

The new menu items will begin rolling out onboard from October 2026. 

See https://www.airnewzealand.com.au

AirAsia cancels flights from Australia

Budget airline AirAsia has announced a decision to suspend services between Melbourne and Adelaide and Denpasar in Bali.

Captain Achmad Sadikin Abdurachman, general manager of Indonesia AirAsia, said the current operating environment has made these routes "no longer viable".

“This decision has been made in response to the sustained increase in global jet fuel prices caused by the ongoing geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East," he said.

"This operating environment has led to the need to re-focus our network on routes that remain operationally viable at this time.

“AirAsia understands the suspension impacts long-made travel plans and we apologise for the inconvenience this decision has caused, and we want to thank our guests for their support and understanding.”

The airline's teams are contacting affected customers directly, detailing the options available.

Where possible, AirAsia is committed to getting guests to their destination either through date changes, or via its Kuala Lumpur hub.

The last flights operating between Melbourne to Denpasar and Adelaide to Denpasar will be on June 18. The impacted services are operated by Indonesia AirAsia.

Massive upgrade for Toronto

 

Canada’s busiest airport is to get a much-need upgrade that will help it service increasing numbers of passengers, news hub Travel Pulse reports.

The upgrading project at Toronto's Pearson International Airport broke ground this week and is being billed as one of the biggest airport infrastructure projects in Canadian history. 

The first phase of the decade-long renovation will see airfield technology upgrades and expansion, as well as an overhaul of the baggage network.

“The future is very bright, and our 52,000 workers will expand to 68,000 jobs over that term, as well, at a time where good jobs, stable jobs, are very important to the country and locally,” says Pearson CEO Deborah Flint.

During phase one, which is earmarked at $3 billion dollars, a new, state-of-the-art airfield lighting control and management system will enhance visibility and guidance to support operations on runways and taxiways. 

In Terminal 1, new luggage carousels will be installed, and investments are being made across 30 kilometres of its baggage infrastructure, with new cameras and sensors for early-issue detection being added.

"We know that in today's time, Pearson must be ambitious, we must be dynamic, and we must be transformative,” says Flint.

Pearson welcomed 45 million passengers in 2025, and expects to grow to 60 million by the early 2030s.

Flint said the project includes a new high-speed taxiway to improve movement of airplanes between gates and runways.

"You hear it at many airports, but in this case, as it's completed, you'll hear less of the pilot saying: 'We're here early and we're waiting for a gate.' So this will help with that."

Ontario transportation minister Prabmeet Sarkaria told reporters at a news conference that Pearson is an important piece of infrastructure in the province and country.

"It's a huge step forward to modernize and expand a cornerstone of Ontario and Canada's transportation system," Sakaria said. "It means upgraded infrastructure, improved passenger experiences, expanded capacity and the ability to support Ontario's growth for decades to come."

Qatar Airways unveils new routes to Venezuela and Colombia

 

Qatar Airways has announced two unique routes set to open up South American travel destinations. 

The Middle East airline it top operate flights to Caracas, Venezuela, and Bogotá, Colombia, from July. 

Inaugural flights will run on July 22, meaning Qatar Airways will serve over 160 global destinations this northern summer. 

Qatar Airways becomes the first Gulf carrier to serve Venezuela, and the first airline to operate flights from the Middle East to Caracas and Bogotá. 

Flights will depart every Wednesday and Sunday. 

The addition of Caracas and Bogotá marks the 15th and 16th destinations in the Americas served by Qatar Airways. 

The airline began serving South America in 2010 with its inaugural flight to Sao Paolo in Brazil.

Qatar will also operate four weekly flights between Doha
and Helsinki from July 15, increasing to daily from August 10.

The carrier will also return to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport from July 15.

AirAsia swoops to buy 150 new Airbus aircraft

Unperturbed by aviation industry headwinds, Air Asia Group this morning announced a huge fllet expansion.

AirAsia X Berhad revealed a deal with Airbus valued at approximately US$19 billion for 150 Airbus A220-300 aircraft, with the strategic flexibility to upsize the commitment to 300 of the same aircraft subject to future demand.

The landmark agreement represents the single largest firm order for the A220 type placed by any airline globally.

The move signals a decisive shift in AirAsia’s future fleet strategy, prioritising operational discipline and margin protection in an evolving global market, the airline said in a statement.

The order was officially announced at a ceremony at the Airbus facility in Mirabel, Canada, attended by Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, Chief Executive Officer of Capital A and Lars Wagner, Chief Executive Officer of Airbus Commercial Aircraft (above).

With the order, AirAsia makes history as the global launch customer for the high-density, 160-seat configuration - which the airline sees as perfect for its short- and medium-haul routes.

This opens up smaller, high-growth markets and secondary hubs that were previously commercially unviable.

“AirAsia has spent more than two decades making the world smaller," said Bo Lingam, Group CEO of AirAsia Group.

"We built Malaysia into the world's top low-cost carrier hub, and we opened up air travel to millions of people across Asia who had never flown before.

"This plane gives us the ability to build the biggest and densest network, serving as a vital tool for efficiency. Its range of up to seven hours opens up entirely new possibilities, and allows us to match right-sized capacity to demand and give our guests the flexibility to fly whenever they want through increased frequencies."

Lars Wagner, CEO of Airbus Commercial Aircraft said: “The A220 will provide an optimal platform for AirAsia, combining low operating costs with the latest technology to maximise productivity and also open up new routes across Asia that were not feasible before."

Upon delivery from 2028, the aircraft will service destinations across Asia, and into the Pacific, freeing up larger A320s and A321s to mid-haul routes, and A330s to fly longer-haul routes into Europe, Australia and North America.

Major budget airline goes out of business

US ultra low-cost airline Spirit Airlines is no more.

The airline cancelled all flights effective immediately on Saturday morning US time, and told passengers not to go to airports for their flights.

The airline's website homepage, where customers could previously make reservations, has a bright yellow banner declaring that Spirit was “winding down all operations,” The New York Times reported.

The budget airline had lost billions of dollars in recent years, filing for bankruptcy in 2024 and 2025.

The Trump administration offered a $US500 million federal lifeline, but the airline’s investors and government officials could not reach an agreement on how to structure a deal to save the company.

“Unfortunately, despite the company’s efforts, the recent material increase in oil prices and other pressures on the business have significantly impacted Spirit’s financial outlook,” the airline said. 

“With no additional funding available to the company, Spirit had no choice but to begin this wind-down.”

In 2023 n 2023, Miami-based Spirit was the seventh-largest passenger carrier in North America with a business model based on keeping costs very low and offering customers cheap tickets.

It had over 130 aircraft in its fleet and served 70 destinations.

Thai Airways cuts back flight schedules

Thai Airways International has joined a growing number of airlines cutting back on flights in the wake of US leader Donald Trump's ongoing Middle East madness. 

The Thai flag carrier has alerted ticket agents to a round of frequency cuts in May across domestic, Asian and European routes, news hub Travel Mole reports.

Thai Airways has blamed rising fuel costs and softer low-season demand for the cuts.

The carrier said it may adjust schedules throughout the month, trimming services on a wide range of routes.

Within Thailand, several key routes will see reduced frequencies from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

Across Asia, flights to Phnom Penh will be reduced from 14 weekly flights to 11 and Singapore trimmed from five daily flights to four.

Beijing flights will be cut from two daily to one and Hong Kong trimmed from four daily to three.

Long-haul services to Europe are also impacted, with multiple routes seeing temporary reductions.

Istanbul is reduced from daily to five weekly flights with similar cuts to Munich, Stockholm and Oslo.

Thai Airways International said it will continue monitoring conditions and may make further schedule changes as needed.

Flying economy? Here's how you can still stretch out and sleep

Fancy escaping your economy seat for a few hours of lie-flat luxury during your long-haul flight?

A break from your cramped space; a chance to stretch out and grab some sleep by paying a supplement?

Air New Zealand' has announced that its innovative Economy Skynest will be available to sample from November, with bookings opening from May 18.

The initial Skynest project will operate between New York (JFK) and Auckland (AKL) - one of the longest routes in the world.

Air New Zealand Chief Executive Nikhil Ravishankar says Skynest is an example of the airline backing innovation that improves the travel experience.

“New Zealand's unique location means we understand long-haul travel better than anyone," he said.

"On some of the world's longest commercial flights to and from New Zealand, Skynest is designed to make a real difference to the journey. Featuring six lie-flat pods in a bunk-style layout between the economy and premium economy cabins, it gives customers the opportunity to stretch out, lie flat and get a few hours' proper rest in the air.”

Developed over several years and tested with more than 200 customers, each Skynest pod provides a private space with a full-length mattress, bedding, ambient lighting, ventilation and charging ports.

The sessions have been designed to allow for natural sleep cycles giving time to settle, sleep and wake gradually. Initially, two sessions will be offered on each flight for a payment of around $495 per person.

“It's a simple idea with a powerful impact: swap the headrest for bedrest, and arrive ready to go,” Ravishankar says.

None of the publicity material has addressed what happens if one of the residents in a very enclosed space is a loud snorer, a bold farter, or, heaven forbid, tries to sneak a friend into the pod for some extracircular activities. 

It is bound to happen sooner or later.   

Learn more about Skynest at https://airnewzealand.com/economy-skynest

Qantas launches a one-week sale

 

Qantas has today launched a major domestic sale - but flyers will need to move quickly to snap up the deals. 

The Australian airline says it is selling more than 2 million discounted seats across 90 routes on its domestic and regional network, with Qantas apparently unworried by ongoing fuel supply issues.

The week-long sale, running until April 28, includes fares in both economy and business for travel through to March 2027, including during the upcoming June long weekend and winter school holidays, one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

There are a range of one-way economy fares starting from $99 on routes from Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Gold Coast and Sydney, while one-way business fares start from $299 on routes from Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart.

The sale will end at 11:59pm (AEST) on April 28, unless sold out prior, and all fares include checked baggage and complimentary food and beverages.

"Australians' appetite for travel continues, and this sale is designed to support our customers planning their next trip around Australia over the next 12 months," says Qantas Domestic CEO Markus Svensson. 

“We’ve just had a bumper Easter holidays with more than a million customers travelling around our domestic network and this sale is timed for those planning where to head next. 

"We have millions of discounted seats across more than 90 routes, including some of Australia’s most popular holiday destinations, from tropical beaches and much-loved regional towns, to city escapes.”

Details can be found at Qantas.com. 

Singapore Airlines has a treat for football lovers

Love your football? Flying during the World Cup later this year?

Singapore Airlines (SIA) says it has you covered.

Customers will be able to enjoy the action from the FIFA World Cup 2026 from June 11 to July 19 with the airline showing the matches live via Sport 24 on its KrisWorld Live TV system.

Football fans will be able to watch all the action in real time.

"Bringing the excitement of the FIFA World Cup on board keeps our customers connected to one of the world’s biggest sporting events at 30,000 feet," says Yeoh Phee Teik, senior vice president for customer experience at Singapore Airlines. .

"These live football matches complement our KrisWorld line-up, and reflect our commitment to continuously enhance the Singapore Airlines in-flight experience and offerings."

KrisWorld Live TV keeps customers connected to major global sporting events via Sport 24, as well as news and business updates via BBC News.

It is available on all SIA Boeing 787-10 and Boeing 737-8 aircraft, as well as 41 Airbus A350-900 and eight Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. 

Live broadcasts are, however, subject to satellite coverage, broadcaster arrangements, and regulatory approvals on selected routes.