A year and a half after the abrupt collapse of Bonza, its erstwhile financier, Miami-based investment firm 777 Partners, is under the microscope again – and for all the wrong reasons.

Its co-founder and former CFO have both been charged by the FBI over allegations of a jaw-dropping US$500 million fraud scheme, with accusations levelled of a complex web of lies and financial chicanery that left lenders and investors holding the bag.

Jake and David dig into the charges and reflect again on how much 777 Partners’ alleged dodgy dealings may have brought Bonza down.

Plus, which carrier was Australia’s most on-time airline in 2024–25 – and what do you do with a radioactive cat?

Sydney is on the verge of a major aviation transformation. With Western Sydney International (Nancy Bird-Walton) Airport set to open in 2026, the city will soon operate as a two-airport metropolis. How will the two-airport city work?

Western Sydney is now Australia’s third-largest economy, with its population set to grow to around 3 million by the 2030s. With air travel demand set to double over the next 20 years, Western Sydney Airport promises to unlock new opportunities in transport, business, and tourism. But delivering on that vision requires careful planning and collaboration.

In this podcast, a panel hosted by UNSW School of Aviation dives into what the opening of Western Sydney Airport will mean for passengers, businesses, and the broader economy.

Join Paul Willis, group executive, planning & delivery, Sydney Airport; Karen Jones, CEO, Destination NSW; and Stevan Sipka, senior manager, network and fleet, Qantas Freight, in a thought-provoking discussion moderated by Dr Ian Douglas, honorary senior lecturer, UNSW Aviation and former chair, International Air Services Commission, on Sydney’s two-airport future.

Just when Qantas thought the saga of its frequent flyer hack might be over, a fresh headache has hit the Flying Kangaroo as online miscreants published the stolen data on the dark web.

The airline is warning customers to beware of scammers, and says it is working with “specialist cyber security experts” to investigate exactly what data was leaked – but what does all this mean for the 5 million people caught up in the breach?

Jake turns to David’s cyber expertise to find out what might be next for Qantas, and what you can do to protect yourself if you’re affected.

Plus, a treat for all you military aviation aficionados out there as our defence and aerospace lead Steve Kuper joins us to talk new Army Apaches, Anduril’s answer to the Ghost Bat, and more.

While most of us can navigate airports without a second thought, those with disabilities can find it much more difficult – and people who have hidden disabilities like autism face their own unique challenges.

As airports and airlines implement more accessibility measures for those with obvious needs like wheelchair users and the visually impaired, less is known on what to do for autistic travellers who can face severe sensory issues in the noisy, chaotic environment of an airport.

Fortunately, the tide is starting to turn, with sunflower lanyards making hidden disabilities more visible, and policy changes allowing autistic people to use aids like noise-cancelling headphones to make their airport journeys easier.

On this week’s Australian Aviation Podcast, Jake talks to Emma Beardsley and Dr Tom Tutton from Aspect Autism Friendly on what autistic people have to deal with at airports, and how not just staff but other travellers can support fellow passengers with a sunflower lanyard.

It’s finally here – the biggest change to Qantas’ domestic fleet in decades. The new A321XLR has joined the national carrier with its first commercial flight, and with 48 on order to replace the ageing 737-800s, it’s the most ambitious phase yet in the airline’s massive fleet renewal program.

With a wider body, more fuel-efficient engines, and a slew of other changes, the A321XLR is a massive leap for the Flying Kangaroo – but does it live up to the hype, and what’s being done about the delicate issue of the toilets?

On this week’s podcast, Jake has a full trip report of the inaugural flight of the Qantas A321XLR, and he and David discuss what it will do for the airline both domestically and internationally.

Plus, Qantas looks to improve its battered reputation by making it a condition of CEO Vanessa Hudson’s bonuses: will it work, or is it just a PR stunt?

Spare a thought for anyone who’s tried to get to or from Europe this week – not only is a “super typhoon” wreaking havoc in Hong Kong, but a massive ransomware attack over the weekend crippled several major airports in Europe, including London’s Heathrow.

Passengers were stranded, flights thrown into chaos, and scenes of long lines and pandemonium dominated the headlines – but never fear, for the Australian Aviation Podcast has just the expertise to break down what happened and who might be responsible.

On this week’s podcast, Jake and David take a look back at the hack attack, how it unfolded, and what it might mean for Australian airports.

Plus, three QantasLink bases could get the chop following a review – how might it impact both staff and regional travellers?

After almost 30 years in service, Virgin Australia Regional Airlines is finally allowing its old Fokkers to retire with the arrival of the Embraer E190-E2, the first of which touched down from Brazil this month.

With an improved range, a new cabin, and more efficient engines, the E2 might just be what Virgin’s regional arm needs to expand its operations across WA – and potentially even further east.

On this week’s Australian Aviation Podcast, Jake is back to deliver his full trip report on the ferry flight from Canberra to Perth, and to look at where the new E-Jets could fit in to Virgin’s larger network… as well as to reveal his new co-host at the thrilling conclusion of the “Game of Thorns”!

Plus, Sydney Airport unveils plans to link its two domestic terminals – could the T2/T3 “Franken-terminal” set it up to compete with its new western rival?

From joy-rides in a Mirage III fighter jet at age seven, to selling her home to help pay for flight lessons, to flying for Rex and eventually becoming one of the faces of Virgin Australia, Captain Michelle Huntington has had a truly astonishing journey.

She’s flown solo in a Beechcraft Bonanza from Arizona to Bankstown, been struck by lightning in mid-air, battled unruly passengers, and stared down industry sexism – but through it all, never lost her sense of adventure.

After leaving the industry during the height of COVID-19, Michelle has taken to the speaking circuit to share the lessons she’s learned, many of which also feature in her new book Lady MacGyver: Unbelievable stories with altitude.

On this special episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, Jake sits down with Michelle to talk about her career, her book, whether there’s life after the sky – and how to keep your internal organs in their proper place at 30,000 feet.

The sound of investor presentations and ASX releases can only mean one thing: results season has come again, bringing joy and cheer to all the good shareholders of the land – especially those who’ve invested in airlines.

Qantas has posted another bumper profit as it looks to snap up even more A321XLRs, Virgin Australia has celebrated its 25th anniversary with a healthy result, Alliance is flying more hours than ever, and across the Tasman, even Air New Zealand is still in the black despite its many headaches.

Jake and guest host Benjamin Foster unpack all the major airlines’ results and take a look ahead to the prospects for 2026.

Plus, it’s the end of the line for Gold Coast Airport’s light rail – what might replace the controversial project as the Olympics draw ever closer?

As it recovers from massive fines and reputational headaches, Qantas has a new hairy problem to deal with over its move to make QantasLink flight crews adopt the same grooming standards as mainline Qantas and Jetstar pilots: namely, no beards allowed.

Qantas insists this is for safety reasons, with a report saying facial hair can interfere with oxygen masks – but hirsute Qantas pilots are crying “not by the hair on our chinny-chin-chins,” and pointing to studies showing beards shave hardly anything off the safety margin. So, who’s right?

Jake is joined by special guest host and fellow facial hair enthusiast Keith Ford of the ifa and SMSF Adviser podcasts to look at the arguments for and against the beard ban, and to take a brave stand against pogonophobia.

Plus, a bunfight erupts over government frequent-flyer perks, and Koala Airlines responds to our challenge – were we wrong about the scrappy start-up?