Despite initially indicating it wouldn't have to go to shareholders for money, Sydney Airport has now asked shareholders to pitch in $2 billion to help it through the challenges brought on by the pandemic.

With Qantas only raising a fraction of its $500 million goal and border restrictions hitting both organisations quite hard, will the airport see the kind of enthusiasm it needs from shareholders to reduce debt and increase liquidity?

In this episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, Phil Tarrant and Adam Thorn discuss Qatar Airways' growing influence in the wake of gushing praise from senior politicians, the Prime Minister's changed stance on state border closures, and the upsurge in intrastate travel to regional holiday hubs.

They also talk about Virgin's surprisingly modest staff cut, Exercise Pitch Black going virtual, the government's investment into a new drone development program, and Dnata donating hundreds of thousands of uneaten meals to charity.