Alan Joyce travel tips

Australian airline Regional Express on Friday suspended more flights from Sydney and accused competitors such as Qantas Airways of “pillaging” its regional pilots, allegations which the flag carrier dismissed.

The A$100m (€61m) penalty deal comes after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) sued the Sydney-based airline in the Federal Court last year. The commission alleged that Qantas engaged in false, misleading or deceptive conduct by advertising tickets for more than 8,000 flights between May 2021 and July 2022 that had already been cancelled.

The Airbus A380 — a giant commercial airliner famous for its two levels and four engines — was once an engineering marvel. It can carry up to 853 people and is large enough to sport lavish amenities such as an on-board shower and a bar.

A Qantas passenger said she crawled along the aisle to her seat after a staff member caused her to fall from her wheelchair.

Qantas Airways downgraded a man from business class so that an off-duty pilot could take his seat, the man told Melbourne radio station 3AW.

Australia’s Qantas Airways said its long-serving CEO would bring forward his retirement amid a publicity firestorm over an accusation of illegal ticket sales, signaling what the flagship carrier hopes is the end of a tumultuous period.

Qantas Airways first new CEO in 15 years is Vanessa Hudson, who will take over from Alan Joyce in November. Hudson will inherit an airline that has emerged strong from the pandemic. During the first six months of the Qantas 2023 fiscal year, the airline posted an A$1.5 billion ($1.1 billion) operating profit and a 16 percent operating margin, besting its results in 2019.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Wednesday, May 3. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

Australia’s flagship carrier, Qantas Airways, on Tuesday named finance chief Vanessa Hudson as its next CEO, making her the first woman to lead the century-old airline.

Top U.S. lawmakers have urged the Biden administration to address the visa wait time issue in India on a priority basis. Visa delays are the single biggest impediment to exponential growth in travel between the U.S. and India. The U.S. Consulate’s all-hands-on-deck approach — such as bringing processing staff in on weekends, making embassies available to Indian nationals in other countries and hiring more staff — has reduced the wait times in the country by 50 percent, from an average of 669 days in mid-March to 337 days in early April, according to the U.S. Travel Association. 

Qantas, Australia’s national airline, has revealed the complete cabin design of its Airbus A350s, marking a significant milestone in its Project Sunrise. That’s the title for its new nonstop routes, slated to begin in late 2025, from Sydney to London and New York, which would be the world’s longest flights.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Friday, June 16. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

The days when most Qantas travelers to the U.S. arrived in Los Angeles to connect on to other points across the country are numbered. The airline has ordered two-dozen new long-range planes for the Asia and U.S. markets that will see it add more nonstop flights to both regions, overflying traditional gateways like Los Angeles.

Australia’s Qantas Airways Ltd posted a significant turnaround in its profit on Thursday, underpinned by a continued strong rebound in travel demand, and announced a share buyback of A$500 million.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Friday, August 25. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

Disrupted sleep, irritability, brain fog: Anyone who’s traveled abroad has undoubtedly experienced a few of jet lag’s symptoms, which only worsen with every time zone crossed.