It was a day five years in the making for Virgin Australia, and it went off without a hitch: Australia’s second-largest airline group is finally back on the ASX, with CEO Dave Emerson ringing the bell for its IPO on Tuesday. The relisting caps off a remarkable turnaround for Virgin Australia after it collapsed into administration in 2020 during COVID-19 – but now that the long road back to public trading is over, what’s next for the carrier? Adam and Jake discuss how Virgin got back on its feet, how it’s changed its business model, and where its future might take it. Plus, with tensions in the Middle East playing havoc with flights through the region, should airlines be looking at more connecting hubs between Australia and Europe?
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42:14
The return of TAA?
Almost 40 years after its rebranding as Australian Airlines – and just over 30 years after its merger with Qantas – a consortium is planning to bring back Trans Australia Airlines, or TAA, with an ambitious plan that would see Rex become the resurrected airline’s regional arm. While Rex’s administrator has knocked back Renaissance Partners’ dark-horse bid a second time, the firm is not yet giving up on its goal of turning Darwin into a hub for incoming flights from Australia’s north – but could it actually work? Adam and Jake discuss the plan for the new TAA, what it might do for passengers, and whether it could avoid Australia’s ever-growing airline graveyard. Plus, Virgin’s IPO finally hits the runway next week, big milestones at Western Sydney International Airport, and why the Air India crash doesn’t necessarily spell doom for the Dreamliner.
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42:04
3 Australian astronauts answer questions from schoolkids
With co-host Jake Nelson off sick, Australian Aviation has had to improvise for this week’s podcast. But what a treat we have for you. Two weeks ago, Australian Aviation’s sister brand, Space Connect, hosted its Australian Space Summit & Exhibition, otherwise known as AusSpace 25. In our best panel, regular host Adam Thorn moderated a panel with three Australian astronauts, with the questions asked by schoolchildren. Paul Scully-Power was Australia’s first-ever astronaut, who went to space in 1984. Eric Philips blasted off to space on a private SpaceX mission in April, while Katherine Bennell-Pegg was the first astronaut to formally qualify under the Australian flag.
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47:56
Is Newcastle the next Gold Coast?
With Western Sydney International Airport still a year and a half from opening, an unexpected alternative might be about to hit the congested NSW market: Newcastle Airport, a couple of hours north of Sydney, will soon have flights to Perth and Bali with more routes potentially on the way. The news will not only allow Hunter Region residents to travel further afield without having to make the trek down to Sydney, it could also give Sydneysiders an alternative to the city’s own crowded airport while WSI finishes construction, providing to Sydney what Gold Coast Airport does to Brisbane. As Newcastle Airport nears completion on its ambitious international terminal redevelopment, Adam and Jake look at what it might do for commercial aviation on the east coast. Plus, after the tumult of the last few years, is Qantas finally climbing its way out of a massive public trust deficit?
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44:36
A life-changing solo flight
On 2 July, associate professor Andrew Kornberg, senior neurologist at The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, will set off from Moorabbin Airport on a journey around Australia in his own single-engine plane to raise $4.5 million for children with rare and complex neurological conditions. The “Fly for the Kids” campaign – similar to Andrew’s previous flight in 2017 – will see him cover 27,000 kilometres over more than 50 hours in the air, in the hopes of establishing dedicated facilities and staff at the RCH for advanced therapies. Along the way, Andrew will visit patients who have been given these new treatments in an effort to raise awareness of how kids with rare conditions can be given longer and happier lives. Andrew spoke to the Australian Aviation Podcast ahead of his journey.
The official podcast network of Australian Aviation – where we unpack all the latest insights and developments plus the big issues impacting Australia’s aviation sector.
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