Australian Aviation Podcast Network

By Momentum Media

What's Australian Aviation Podcast Network about?

The official podcast network of Australian Aviation – where we unpack all the latest insights and developments plus the big issues impacting Australia’s aviation sector.

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Australian Aviation Podcast Network episodes:

04.17.2024
Flying Kangaroo plays it safe on Perth–London route
With tensions flaring between Israel and Iran, Qantas has paused its non-stop Perth–London services, adding a new stop in Singapore on the northbound journey. Given the difficulties of avoiding Iranian airspace between Perth and London while staying within the...
04.10.2024
Qantas offers frequent flyers a $120m olive branch
Qantas has unveiled a massive shake-up to its frequent flyer program, adding 20 million new seats per year. The “Classic Plus” seats will cost more than the existing 5 million annual “Classic Rewards” seats, but will be more reliably available to passengers...
04.03.2024
Holiday headaches on the horizon as strikes loom
No sooner have the Network Aviation strikes in WA ended than Airservices Australia becomes the next big name in the sector to face industrial action, as aviation rescue firefighters plan a work stoppage for 15 April and air traffic controllers...
03.27.2024
Boeing, going, gone
Heads are continuing to roll at Boeing, with the CEO and chairman both announcing their retirement by the end of the year. It’s the latest fallout in the ongoing turmoil stemming from the mid-air blowout on board an Alaska Airlines...
03.20.2024
RAAF rolls out pulse-pounding new recruitment ad
In a bid to boost Air Force recruitment, Defence has launched a cinematic new advertising campaign spruiking all the different roles available in the RAAF. Featuring footage of (and shot in) actual RAAF aircraft, the ad blitz aims to get...
03.13.2024
Virgin’s new pet project
Pet-loving passengers rejoice – Virgin Australia is allowing literal ‘sky kittens’ on its planes, with small dogs and cats soon to be allowed in the cabin on select domestic flights. Naturally, there are caveats, of course: pets will need...
03.06.2024
Bonza fleet change and Jetstar’s new uniform
This week, Bonza quietly revealed its Canadian aircraft would be gaining their Australian passports, switching from a wet to dry lease agreement. Adam and Jake discuss what this means for the airline’s future, and whether it could eventually fly from...
02.28.2024
Project Sunrise delayed as Airbus issues bite Qantas
Last week, Qantas released another set of impressive financial results that showed the airline is continuing its historic performance post-pandemic. But buried deep down was the news that the first A350 set to fly Project Sunrise direct flights from...
02.21.2024
Did Virgin’s CEO leave the job on a high?
This week, Virgin Australia’s CEO, Jayne Hrdlicka, shocked the industry by stepping down as the airline’s CEO. But has she left on a high, or is there more to the departure than meets the eye? This week, Adam...
02.14.2024
Inside Babcock’s work at Ambulance Victoria
Babcock Australasia and Ambulance Victoria perform vital work in the state, serving 5.5 million people and retrieving or treating 6,000 patients a year – many of them in critical condition. This week, we speak to two of Babcock’s aviation...
02.12.2024
Boo returns to the Australian Aviation Podcast
Former fighter pilot Christian “Boo” Boucousis was one of the original hosts of the Australian Aviation Podcast when it launched in 2020. Now he’s back from his new home of Miami, Florida, to talk about how the industry has changed...
01.31.2024
Is Qantas’ new safety video really that bad?
This week, Qantas unveiled a flash new safety video that took in destinations as varied as Litchfield National Park and Lapland. The problem is not one bit of it was filmed in an aircraft. This week, the team...
01.24.2024
Airlines rush to pop the champers on performance data
The release of the December BITRE data for on-time domestic performance has seen carriers such as Rex and Qantas rush to claim victory over their rivals. But with on-time performance across the board still well below the long-term average...
01.17.2024
Virgin and Qantas row over Bali flights
So much for New Year’s resolutions. As we enter 2024, Virgin and Qantas are attacking each other in a bid to operate lucrative flights to Bali. Virgin says Qantas relies too heavily on overseas aircrew, while Qantas says Virgin charges too much. Who are...
01.10.2024
A Boeing disaster and Airbus triumph
Over the Christmas holidays, two major international aviation stories got Australians talking, with radically different impacts for planemakers. Airbus was hailed for its innovative aircraft design after everybody onboard an exploding A350 miraculously escaped unharmed. However, Boeing faced another backlash...
12.13.2023
Can Bonza recover from its Gold Coast headache?
It’s been an unpleasant couple for weeks for Bonza, the new kid on the Australian aviation block, with mass cancellations of its new Gold Coast routes while it waits for CASA to clear its wet-lease operations with Flair. With customers...
12.05.2023
The future of aviation until 2050, with UNSW
In November, UNSW Aviation held a panel to discuss the government’s aviation white paper, which will create a long-term strategy for the industry for the next three decades. The session featured a collection of senior figures who gave a...
11.30.2023
World’s first all-sustainable-fuel flight points the way
In a spectacular proof of concept, Virgin Atlantic has flown the world’s first commercial flight – from London to New York – powered entirely by sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) derived from waste fats and plant sugars. At a time when standards dictate...
11.23.2023
How Alan Joyce transformed Qantas
In the wake of Alan Joyce’s exit from the Flying Kangaroo, aviation luminary Peter Harbison has released Alan Joyce and Qantas: The Trials and Transformation of an Australian Icon. The book charts the former CEO’s life and career, from...
11.15.2023
Virgin’s union row and Chris says goodbye
First Alan Joyce, now this – Australian Aviation’s Chris Fenton is leaving us. In his (sort of) final episode, the team farewells the man who has held almost every job in aviation. But before he goes, Adam, Jake...
11.08.2023
Does Qantas’ ‘ghost flights’ defence pass the sniff test?
It’s been another rough few weeks for Qantas, with the public unimpressed by the airline’s claim that it doesn’t sell tickets for specific flights but “bundles of contractual rights”. With the Flying Kangaroo already on the nose for allegedly...
11.01.2023
A just culture and aviation safety, with UNSW
Earlier this year, UNSW Aviation held a special panel at the university, examining how a just culture can be improved to facilitate advances in aviation safety. The session featured a panel of industry experts who gave a diverse range...
10.25.2023
Hudson changes course on Alliance deal
This week, new CEO Vanessa Hudson made her first big call as she unwound Qantas’ agreement to buy Alliance. That deal, of course, was led by her predecessor, Alan Joyce. Chris, Jake and Adam discuss whether this is the start of...
10.19.2023
Goyder’s turn for a long goodbye
A pair of high-profile departures at the Flying Kangaroo is seeing chairman Richard Goyder and Qantas Loyalty CEO Olivia Wirth head for the exits. But with no firm departure date, is Goyder taking too long to allow for a true renewal at the...
10.12.2023
UNSW’s Andrew Charlton on the future of aviation policy
Andrew Charlton is the managing director of Aviation Advocacy, a consultancy firm based in Switzerland. His CV includes stints as chief legal officer at Qantas before heading government affairs for the IATA and working as a lecturer in airport economics,...
10.04.2023
Who won out in Qantas v the Senate?
Last week, Qantas’s new CEO and chairman were summoned to attend a Senate inquiry into the airline’s recent performance. But how did the Flying Kangaroo do in the face of brutal barbs from the posturing inquisitors? Adam and Chris discuss...
09.27.2023
Qantas CEO makes her first big appearance
New Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson had been conspicuous by her absence since taking the top job in aviation. However, last Friday, she recorded a video message to consumers, apologising for the Flying Kangaroo’s performance and pledging to improve the situation....
09.20.2023
Qantas loses appeal over axed workers
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...
09.13.2023
Has Hudson bodged her debut as Qantas CEO?
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...
09.06.2023
Joyce has gone, but was he really that bad?
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...
08.31.2023
Qantas’s big profits and bigger plane order
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...
08.24.2023
Qatar controversy and Melbourne noise
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,...
08.16.2023
Is Qantas right to back the ‘Yes’ vote?
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...
08.10.2023
Airservices admits to problems and QF1 reviewed
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...
08.02.2023
Bonza bounces back with Gold Coast expansion
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...
07.27.2023
Slots and shortages stifle recovery
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...
07.20.2023
Is Bonza’s plan now in trouble?
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...
07.12.2023
Pilots’ union says ATC issues affect safety
Australia’s biggest pilots’ union last week claimed air traffic control staffing issues are making skies less safe for pilots and passengers. The Australian Federation of Air Pilots (AFAP) has told Australian Aviation that its members have encountered “chronic” and...
07.05.2023
Does aviation have a staffing crisis?
This week, Bonza has blamed the industry’s ongoing talent shortage for a rash of cancellations that have left passengers stranded. They weren’t the only ones, with controversy surrounding whether or not Australia has enough air traffic controllers following delays and cancellations affecting NSW’s school...
06.28.2023
Is it time to stop moaning about aircraft noise?
To its detractors, the noise from overhead aircraft will hugely affect the lives of hundreds of thousands of residents, but for avgeeks, living under the flight path is a privilege. In this episode, Adam, Chris and Jake discuss whether we should...
06.22.2023
Is the ‘Wellbeing Zone’ on Project Sunrise a gimmick?
Qantas has unveiled the first photos of the unique stretching area located on its Project Sunrise A350-1000s that will fly for up to 20 hours. The ‘Wellbeing Zone’, accessible to all passengers, will feature “sculpted wall panels” and “integrated stretch...
06.15.2023
Your last call to enter the Australian Aviation Awards
The Australian Aviation Awards 2023 are on course to be the biggest in our history. In this episode, Adam, Chris and Jake discuss why you need to take this last chance to enter and share their tips for becoming...
06.14.2023
How CareFlight is embracing the future of aeromedical transport
Aeromedical charity CareFlight, which delivers aeromedical services in urban, regional, and remote areas around Australia, has partnered with AMSL Aero on a new electric VTOL air ambulance – the Vertiia. CEO Mick Frewen talks with Australian Aviation’s Jake Nelson on how...
06.09.2023
Are airport slots hindering competition?
This week, the ACCC claimed airlines “can exploit” the rules around airport slots – effectively hoarding the best take-off times to indefinitely block out rivals. But what on earth are the rules, and why have they proved so controversial? In...
06.06.2023
What’s next for Bonza?
Four months after its launch, low-cost carrier Bonza has wrapped up its initial 27-route network rollout and is now eyeing future growth. CEO Tim Jordan joins us again on the Australian Aviation podcast to discuss Bonza’s early successes, the challenges...
05.31.2023
How YouTube is spreading the love of aviation
With aviation continuing to emerge from the COVID-19 slump, YouTubers like Jeb Brooks of GreenerGrass.com are making a living bringing the flying experience – especially business and first-class travel – to people who may never sit in the pointy end...
05.23.2023
Is AI the future of drone flight?
As drone technology advances by leaps and bounds, Sydney-based drone training company Aviassist has brought another new innovation to Australian shores, with the country’s first AI-operated drone flight recently taking place on Goat Island in Sydney Harbour. In this...
05.18.2023
Is Air New Zealand’s Skynest a gimmick?
Air New Zealand has finally released more details around its much-hyped Skynest. This week, Adam, Chris and Jake discuss whether the bunk bed design is a revolution or PR stunt. Plus, the team discusses reports we’ll soon be...
05.12.2023
Why is Joyce’s successor being paid less?
This week, it emerged Alan Joyce’s successor at Qantas, Vanessa Hudson, will be paid significantly less than the airline’s long-serving CEO. In this episode, Adam, Jake and Chris ask whether that’s a blow for industry equality – or still...
05.04.2023
Is the long goodbye to Alan Joyce a good idea?
This week, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce shocked the industry by announcing he was set to step down from his role – in November. While it was well known he would be leaving, the announcement came far earlier than expected, alongside...

What's Australian Aviation Podcast Network about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Australian Aviation Podcast Network episodes:

Flying Kangaroo plays it safe on Perth–London route

Qantas offers frequent flyers a $120m olive branch

Holiday headaches on the horizon as strikes loom

Boeing, going, gone

RAAF rolls out pulse-pounding new recruitment ad

Virgin’s new pet project

Bonza fleet change and Jetstar’s new uniform

Project Sunrise delayed as Airbus issues bite Qantas

Did Virgin’s CEO leave the job on a high?

Inside Babcock’s work at Ambulance Victoria

Boo returns to the Australian Aviation Podcast

Is Qantas’ new safety video really that bad?

Airlines rush to pop the champers on performance data

Virgin and Qantas row over Bali flights

A Boeing disaster and Airbus triumph

Can Bonza recover from its Gold Coast headache?

The future of aviation until 2050, with UNSW

World’s first all-sustainable-fuel flight points the way

How Alan Joyce transformed Qantas

Virgin’s union row and Chris says goodbye

Does Qantas’ ‘ghost flights’ defence pass the sniff test?

A just culture and aviation safety, with UNSW

Hudson changes course on Alliance deal

Goyder’s turn for a long goodbye

UNSW’s Andrew Charlton on the future of aviation policy

Who won out in Qantas v the Senate?

Qantas CEO makes her first big appearance

Qantas loses appeal over axed workers

Has Hudson bodged her debut as Qantas CEO?

Joyce has gone, but was he really that bad?

Qantas’s big profits and bigger plane order

Qatar controversy and Melbourne noise

Is Qantas right to back the ‘Yes’ vote?

Airservices admits to problems and QF1 reviewed

Bonza bounces back with Gold Coast expansion

Slots and shortages stifle recovery

Is Bonza’s plan now in trouble?

Pilots’ union says ATC issues affect safety

Does aviation have a staffing crisis?

Is it time to stop moaning about aircraft noise?

Is the ‘Wellbeing Zone’ on Project Sunrise a gimmick?

Your last call to enter the Australian Aviation Awards

How CareFlight is embracing the future of aeromedical transport

Are airport slots hindering competition?

What’s next for Bonza?

How YouTube is spreading the love of aviation

Is AI the future of drone flight?

Is Air New Zealand’s Skynest a gimmick?

Why is Joyce’s successor being paid less?

Is the long goodbye to Alan Joyce a good idea?