As if Boeing needed more bad news, the US-China trade war has delivered another body blow to the planemaker with Beijing ordering a halt on new Boeing plane deliveries to Chinese airlines.

As China’s aviation industry is upended by the news, what does it mean for one of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world – not to mention Boeing’s competitors, and other countries looking to get their hands on scarce planes?

Adam and Jake examine the fallout and how the tit-for-tat tariffs could squeeze more industries than just aviation.

Plus, Australia hits new heights for international travel, and a dark-horse candidate takes home the coveted Huey.

 

Almost a year after the swift and sudden demise of Bonza, some relief for its directors came this month with ASIC confirming it would take no further action against them.

Absent any further evidence, the decision effectively draws a line under the collapse of a carrier that started with dreams of uniting “Allstralia” and ended in a storm of tears, recriminations and misfortune – but did it ever have a shot to begin with?

Adam and Jake look back at the Bonza saga and what could have been.

Plus, surprising news from Western Sydney as Qantas clarifies just which of its airlines will be operating from the new airport at launch – and it’s not the ones we expected.

Another April Fool’s Day is behind us, and unfortunately for everyone excited about driving in a 737 from Sydney to Melbourne, it turns out “Wombat Groundways” isn’t actually real – sorry.

Between Virgin Australia allowing you to check your “emotional baggage” and Mad Mex’s move into in-flight catering, aviation April Fool’s fans ate well this month – but it turns out one supposed prank may have been the real deal after all.

Adam and Jake discuss a surprise move by Emirates that the airline insists is no joke.

Plus, vale Val Kilmer – in the wake of Iceman’s passing, how well does Top Gun hold up?

It’s the biggest event in Australian aviation: the biennial Avalon Airshow, which this year ran over six days at the end of March.

Featuring static and aerial displays, as well as trade exhibitors and networking events, the 2025 show attracted more than 200,000 people in total across the six days, including 60,000 industry visitors.

Around 350 aircraft were on show, either in the air and on the ground, with 902 participating exhibitor organisations from 28 countries contributing to the event.

On the ground at the airshow, Adam and Jake get an up-close look at some military hardware as they discuss the news of the previous week.

Mission Aviation Fellowship uses its aircraft and volunteers to help people living in the most isolated communities in Australia and around the world.   In this episode, the charity’s new local CEO, Chris Barnes, talks about their vital work, and what you can do to support them.   The pair also discuss the organisation’s history, its fleet and stories of how their team are making a real difference to people that need it most.

As the “big four” airports – Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth – bring in record revenues for their aeronautical operations, they’re starting to splash a lot of that cash on future-proofing their infrastructure.

Between third runways, terminal renovations, new safety technologies, and of course the ongoing construction of a second Sydney international gateway, airports on both sides of the Tasman are set to spend billions on upgrades over the next decade.

Adam and Jake look at some of the latest projects in the spotlight and what they mean for the sector as it continues to recover from the lingering effects of the pandemic.

Plus, does the government’s proposed aviation charter of customer rights go too far – or not far enough?

Between tropical cyclones, cockpit medical episodes, and airport security breaches – and all of those just in Australia – one could perhaps be forgiven this week for having a sudden bout of aerophobia.

There’s been a harsher spotlight on aviation safety stateside, too, with staffing cuts threatening the Federal Aviation Administration, as well as SpaceX’s latest Starship explosion forcing the closure of four major airports in Florida.

Adam and Jake look back at a wild week in the skies and discuss some of the safety concerns that have been brought to the forefront.

Plus, some long-awaited white smoke at Virgin Australia as a new chief executive is announced just hours before the carrier is awarded its coveted 28 weekly flights to Doha – so what will Jayne Hrdlicka’s legacy be as she finally bows out of the top job?

Since the departure of Alan Joyce in late 2023, new Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson has largely eschewed her predecessor’s bombastic camera-friendly style, instead keeping her head down and focused on rebuilding Australia’s trust in the Flying Kangaroo.

Passenger experience has become the watchword, with the recent announcement of another solid half-yearly profit being accompanied by the promise of a cabin refit for 42 aging 737-800s as the airline awaits more of its new-generation Airbus fleet – but is Hudson’s approach bearing fruit?

Adam and Jake discuss the delicate balancing act and whether Qantas is beginning to climb out of the trust deficit the old management left behind.

Plus, Qatar Airways’ bid for a stake in Virgin gets the all-important green light from the government, and how can the aviation sector address the lingering gender pay gap?

More than 10 years after the mysterious disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight 370 in the Indian Ocean, the plane has yet to be found despite two search efforts – and the families of those who lost their lives still have no answers.

But a new search effort, led by Ocean Infinity, has once again raised hopes that the wreckage may yet be uncovered – this time, by examining four potential “hotspots” west of Perth that were missed on previous expeditions. The question is, are these hopes just an illusion?

Adam and Jake are joined by special guest Hannah Dowling to discuss the search and whether or not there is any chance for a breakthrough.

Plus, Chinese naval exercises in the Tasman Sea spark concerns about air safety – why did pilots only find out after they had already started?

In this special episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, host Adam Thorn speaks with Jeff Shaknaitis, the customer sustainability leader at GE Aerospace, about the industry's push toward net-zero emissions by 2050.

Jeff shares his career journey and how his passion for sustainability led him to play a key role in GE’s efforts to help airlines decarbonise, including its groundbreaking 100 per cent sustainable aviation fuel test flight.

They explore innovations like the Open Fan engine, hybrid-electric propulsion, and the challenges of scaling SAFs in future.