Last week, Qantas lost its High Court appeal over the outsourcing of around 1,700 ground workers during the pandemic. The decision means the airline is facing a hefty compensation bill – and yet more bad publicity. Adam, Chris and Jake discuss the latest and ask how Qantas can say sorry to ex-employees when it fought so hard in court to defend its decision.  Plus, what’s going on with Google Wing delivery drones in Canberra? 

It’s one week PJ (that’s post-Joyce), but Qantas’s critics don’t seem to be letting up.

Whether it’s the row over Qatar, frequent flyer points, slots, delays or the Chairman’s Lounge, the bad news keeps coming for the Flying Kangaroo.

This week, Jake, Chris and Adam discuss the latest revelations and ask how the airline can stem the tide of bad news.

Plus, they ask, just where has Vanessa Hudson been?

This week, Alan Joyce stepped down as Qantas CEO early, bringing to an end his 15-year spell in aviation’s top job.

It came days after the ACCC revealed it was taking the airline to court over allegations it sold tickets to flights it already cancelled. 

But as the vultures circle, was he really that bad a leader? Adam, Jake and Chris reflect on the good, the bad and the ugly.

Plus, with the Australian Aviation Awards over for another year, the team discuss the nominees and winners.

Qantas has confirmed it will order 12 new 787 Dreamliners and 12 Airbus A350s to replace the bulk of its ageing A330 fleet.

The news means outgoing CEO Alan Joyce will leave the company having overseen what is likely the last significant aircraft order for a decade.

But should Joyce have left that announcement to his successor rather than take the plaudits himself? Adam, Chris and Jake discuss.

Plus, what’s going on with the messy love triangle between Qantas, Virgin and Qatar?

This week, both Qantas and Virgin weighed in on Qatar being blocked from adding more flights to Australia’s major airports.

But Virgin CEO Jayne Hrdlicka has skin in the game because her airline is a codeshare partner of Qatar, and, of course, a fellow rival of Qantas.

So what’s going on? And does anyone really have Aussie travellers’ best interests at heart? Adam, Chris and Jake discuss the latest.

Plus, the team talk about the latest initiative to reduce the dulcet purring of aircraft ‘noise’.

Qantas has officially thrown its weight behind the Yes campaign for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

The Flying Kangaroo has unveiled a new livery for three of its aircraft – a Qantas 737-800, a Jetstar A320, and a QantasLink Dash 8 – featuring the Yes campaign’s logo, saying it has long supported reconciliation and a “fair go”.

But is the national carrier right to take a side in a political discussion with the public split down the middle? Adam and Chris discuss the latest.

Plus, the pair discuss the life and legacy of the fantastic Max Hazelton – the last of aviation’s mavericks.  

Air traffic control provider Airservices Australia finally admitted it's not delivering the service people expect – on a Friday afternoon. The statement, significantly, didn’t contain an apology and came after repeated assurances that the organisation did actually have enough staff. This week, Adam, Chris and Jake discuss and latest and ask whether the apparent mea culpa will calm anger across the industry. Finally, the podcast welcomes a special guest to review QF1 – and discuss how it compares to British Airways' equivalent business-class service.

Weeks ago, Bonza announced a surprising cut to its network despite only launching in January. But on Monday, the point-to-point carrier revealed it is setting up a third base in the Gold Coast, from where it will fly to 11 destinations. Adam, Jake and Chris discuss what this means for Bonza’s strategy and what might be going on with its wet lease agreement. Plus, the team talk slots (again), Brisbane sky kittens and the Australian Aviation Awards.

This week, Sydney Airport’s CEO told major airlines to use their take-off slots or let other carriers have them as domestic traffic continues to languish. It comes after the ACCC in June argued that larger airlines “can exploit” slot rules to stifle competition from smaller carriers, with both Bonza and Rex claiming the system is putting them at a severe disadvantage. Adam, Jake and Chris discuss the latest as take-off technicalities become national news. Plus, after another month of delays, is air traffic control really understaffed? Who’s to blame?

Last week, Bonza said it would axe five of its 27 routes just months after their launch in a move the airline said would reduce cancellations across its network.

Chief customer officer Carly Povey admitted to Australian Aviation the decision to cut back services had been made earlier than Bonza would have liked and added the company was compelled to take out routes where there wasn’t “sustainable demand at present”.

Does this mean the end of Bonza’s dream to fly point-to-point routes, cutting out capital cities? Or is this just a sensible restructuring of its network? Adam, Chris and Jake discuss.

Plus, the team put the boot into a bizarre union negotiation, discuss the latest chapter in the row over slot rules and ask what’s the solution to the staffing issues at air traffic control.