Twelve months is a long time in aviation, and 2024 has been longer than most – not least because of the ignominious collapse of two domestic airlines, Rex and Bonza, which a year ago had seemed in far better shape than they actually were.

Of course, these weren’t the only major developments, with Qatar and Virgin announcing a big new tie-up, the government releasing its highly-anticipated Aviation White Paper, and supply chain issues continuing to squeeze aircraft production.

In this final regular Australian Aviation Podcast for 2024, Adam and Jake break down the biggest stories of the year and look ahead to 2025.

Plus, speculation abounds that the government might buy out the biggest share of Rex’s debt – but would it get its money’s worth?

A few months after the government’s Aviation White Paper promised action on disability access in airports and planes, a new advocacy campaign is calling for faster change in the industry.

Led by disability rights spokesperson Shane Hryhorec, the campaign says there are significant systemic problems around access that are leaving disabled passengers at risk of humiliation or injury, and that people with disabilities should get a seat at the table to push for improvements.

Adam and Jake unpack the issue and ask whether the industry – and government – are doing enough to make sure disabled passengers can travel safely and comfortably.

Plus, airports make the jump to 100 per cent renewable energy, the problem with Qantas’ new Christmas livery, and from Florida with love – will Sydney Airport’s “woman with the golden gun” fly another day?

Virgin Australia’s tie-up with Qatar Airways is gathering steam, with the ACCC giving interim approval to sell tickets on 28 weekly wet-leased services to Doha, while the airline has officially applied to the IASC for all the available capacity.

There may be turbulence ahead, however, with the influential Transport Workers’ Union hinting it might take back its support for the deal if ex-Qantas executive Paul Jones – who played a part in the illegal outsourcing scandal – is tapped to replace Jayne Hrdlicka as CEO.

Adam and Jake go over the latest news, including which airports will be first to see Virgin’s Doha flights if the deal goes ahead.

Plus, calls are growing for Qantas to bring back international flights from Adelaide – but is the juice worth the squeeze for the Flying Kangaroo?

Think your airfares are bad? Spare a thought for the people of Darwin, who according to a recent ABC Stateline report, are having to pay thousands of dollars – even months in advance – for an interstate flight. Both Qantas Group and Virgin have denied any accusations of price gouging, with Qantas blaming various regional and seasonal factors while Virgin is pointing the finger squarely at Darwin Airport and its high fees – but are they right? Adam and Jake take a look at the situation up north and whether a bit more competition could cool down prices in the tropical Top End. Plus, who won this month’s coveted Huey Award for reliability – and is it better to delay a flight than cancel it?

It’s official – after more than 10 years codesharing with Virgin Australia, Etihad has called it quits, announcing the tie-up will end next June irrespective (it seems) of whether the exclusivity arrangement between Virgin and Qatar Airways is approved. With codesharing on Singapore Airlines services beyond Asia also looking likely to get the chop – but not Velocity frequent flyer benefits on those same services – what will this mean for passengers? Adam and Jake try to unpick the details and ask whether the exclusive code-sharing arrangement needs to be restricted. Plus, with regional airports owed millions after Rex went into administration, and rivals rebuking the government’s bailout, is it time to let the airline go?

It’s been three-and-a-half months since Rex went into administration, and while the planes are still flying, so far the administrators have yet to find a buyer for its regional turboprop operations despite securing a deal to sell off the profitable aeromedical wing Pel-Air.

Enter the federal government, which has extended its support for the airline to the tune of $80 million in financing, which the administrator has indicated it wants to use to keep the lights on until at least mid-2025 while growing the operational fleet.

Adam and Jake discuss whether this latest effort from the government is likely to bear fruit, and what it might mean for Rex’s regional rivals.

Plus, Qantas objects to Virgin’s wet-leasing deal with Qatar – but does the Flying Kangaroo have a leg to hop on? 

It’s the book that’s sent shockwaves through the aviation world: The Chairman’s Lounge: The Inside Story of How Qantas Sold Us Out, a deep dive into the Alan Joyce era and how Qantas went from one of the most trusted brands in the country to one of the least. Covering the decisions made during COVID-19 – including the illegal outsourcing of ground handlers and the controversial “flight credits” scheme – as well as the perception of undue influence on politics, failures in customer service, and other topics, author Joe Aston lays out the case against Joyce in a book that has put a national spotlight on aviation. In this Australian Aviation podcast, Jake Nelson speaks to Aston about the revelations in his book, his verdict on Joyce as a whole, and whether he believes new CEO Vanessa Hudson can right the ship.

Alan Joyce may be gone, but his ghost continues to haunt the halls of Qantas HQ at Mascot, with new chairman John Mullen saying at last week’s AGM that the Flying Kangaroo “might well have not survived” COVID-19 without the colourful former CEO and ex-chairman Richard Goyder.

His remarks came, however, as a new book from former columnist for The Australian Financial Review, Joe Aston, gave Joyce a good kicking, calling him “increasingly autocratic” and arguing that Qantas “sold [Australia] out”. At the same time, the notorious “Chairman’s Lounge” is in the spotlight again amid fresh controversy over the Prime Minister’s perceived cosy relationship with the airline.

On this week’s episode, Adam and Jake discuss what happened at the AGM and whether politicians should think twice about accepting the invitation to the Chairman’s Lounge. Plus, Virgin Australia’s deal with Qatar is threatening to kneecap codeshare partner Etihad – where will the UAE carrier go if its biggest Australian partnership is axed?

It’s BITRE season again, and while domestic aviation still lags the long-term averages, there’s one figure where the industry is unexpectedly ahead: in a rare showing, cancellations for September were below the long-term average even as on-time performance continued to struggle.

Meanwhile, in another mixed-bag month for the major airlines, which was ultimately the most reliable – and what were some of the other surprises?

Adam and Jake reveal this month’s winner of the newly-christened Huey Award (as well as why it’s called the Huey Award).

Plus, is Rex’s 30-year-old Saab fleet putting it in danger of going the same way as Bonza?