Aviation - VibeWire Magazine

RAAF Wedgetail to support multinational operations in Hormuz

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May 14, 2026
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Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles confirmed intentions for the deployment on 13 May. The deployment alongside allies under the multinational freedom of navigation operations follows a recent meeting of defence min…

Middle East conflict constrains Australian aviation growth

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May 13, 2026
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In its Australian Aviation Network Overview report for April 2026, Airservices Australia revealed Australia saw 2,475 daily average passenger flights last month, up just 0.2 per cent on the previous year, with domestic regional flights dropping by 4.1 …

Video Podcast: Is it worth complaining about flight delays?

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May 13, 2026
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On this week’s Australian Aviation Podcast, with 55 per cent of Aussie travellers reporting disruptions over a 12-month period, Jake and David swap war stories of flight delays and examine just how satisfied Australians are with our airlines and airpor…

Budget flags $40m+ for airline competition and consumer protection

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May 13, 2026
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In the 2026 Budget, announced this week, $38.1 million over four years from 2026–27 and $7.3 million per year ongoing was earmarked for the government’s consumer protection priorities, as well as $4.5 million over four years to continue the ACCC’s dome…

Industry voices ‘outrage’ at new hike in departure tax

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May 13, 2026
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From January next year, the tax – applied to all airfares and cruise tickets leaving the country – will increase from $70 to $80 in what Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF) CEO Margy Osmond has labelled “an absolute shocker for the tourism industry”….

Qantas proposes bringing 150 QantasLink support workers in-house

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May 12, 2026
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Around 150 employees at Sydney and Brisbane Airports, currently employed by Qantas subsidiaries Eastern and Sunstate, would be affected by the new arrangements, which the union says would bump their pay by around 30 per cent and “close a long-standing …

RAAF confirms first fully crewed MC-55A Peregrine mission

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May 12, 2026
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Two of the airborne intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and electronic warfare aircraft arrived in Australia earlier this year. The MC-55A Peregrines are based at RAAF Base Edinburgh, South Australia, and operated by No. 10 Squadron.

Union demands answers on Qantas AI plans

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May 11, 2026
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In a letter to Qantas chief executive Vanessa Hudson, ASU assistant national secretary Scott Cowen noted recent comments by Hudson at the Macquarie Australia Conference this month regarding cost reductions and the integration of AI across the Qantas Gr…

Western Sydney Airport metro jettisons contractor after scandal

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May 11, 2026
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Future Form, a subcontractor for construction consortium Parklife Metro, came under scrutiny last year for alleged exploitation of workers and “mafia-style” intimidation tactics. The findings of an investigation have now been referred to police and int…

RNZAF completes successful medevac from Antarctica

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May 8, 2026
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The air force deployed a C-130J Hercules transport aircraft under No. 40 Squadron for the medical evacuation to Antarctica’s McMurdo Station and round trip back to Christchurch late last month.