This Month
Can big ski resorts really transform into year-round destinations?
Thredbo has installed an alpine rollercoaster and Mount Buller put in new equipment to transport mountain bikes as operators try to maximise their investments.
Virgin’s loyalty boss departs two weeks before results
Chief executive of Velocity Nick Rohrlach and head of strategy and transformation Alistair Hartley are both leaving the airline.
Top director accused of ignoring legal advice in airport spat
Dexus has claimed in a court case that APAC chair Christine O’Reilly ignored the advice of a top law firm concerning a shareholder dispute.
Why Qantas’ loyalty boss’s son tore into him
Qantas will allow its frequent flyers to book premium economy seats on Emirates as part of a strategy to hit $1 billion in loyalty revenue by 2030.
These $70,000 flights to London sold out in two days
Almost a century after Qantas launched the so-called “kangaroo route” flights, a charter operator is recreating the 14-day, eight-stop trip to Europe.
Qantas sells one-third of Jetstar Japan stake in pivot to home market
The Development Bank of Japan will replace the Australian airline in a consortium of Japanese owners, which plans to rebrand the budget carrier based in Tokyo.
Corporate Travel CEO gone, but investors remain on ASX death row
Jamie Pherous is out, but shareholders still have no idea whether this company can survive.
Corporate Travel chief quits as trading halt ticks over five months
The travel services provider’s stock last changed hands in August after the company said it had found minor accounting issues and couldn’t finalise accounts.
Virgin earnings boost could help Bain to another early pay day
Australian airlines are poised to report bumper earnings, as the dollar and declining fuel costs buoy expectations for a strong first half.
January
More than 1m Australians on notice over UK immigration change
Australia’s biggest migrant community is being warned to quickly ensure their British passports are valid for travel home.
NRF invests $30m in Melbourne autonomous vehicle manufacturer
Applied EV will use the funding, including from Barrenjoey and Japan Post Capital, to scale up its production for the logistics and mining industries.
Surging SUV demand helps Polestar post big EV market share gains
While sentiment toward electric vehicle purchases remained subdued last year, some manufacturers are finding success with larger, more sought after models.
‘I’m embarrassed to tell you’: The secrets of an elite status frequent flyer
Climbing the rungs of airline status isn’t always about business class international flights and caviar. Dale Brittain is proof.
Public servants to keep status credits in blow to Virgin
Qantas gets the lion’s share of public service travel even though its flights are not cheaper, but says status benefits save the government money overall.
Qantas cancels at twice the rate of Virgin, but arrives on time more
Virgin’s move to bolster its regional services with new planes looks to be paying dividends, with the airline reporting zero cancellations in December.
Minority investors prepare to jump at helicopter rental biz Auriga
The mothership, Auriga Group, has been in bankers’ pitch books for several years, but this is the first time that a stake has come up for grabs.
Qantas devalues frequent flyer points for Emirates’ luxury cabins
The changes – including restrictions on lower tier loyalty members booking first class seats – come months after the Australian airline made broader changes.
Peter Fox’s long absence puts Linfox succession plan in the spotlight
For seven decades, billionaire businessman Lindsay Fox has loomed large over the empire he built from one truck. Who will succeed him is an open question.
‘Chaos’ at Sydney Airport as air traffic control shortage hits flights
Dozens of flights were cancelled and many more delayed by more than three hours in the worst disruption at the country’s busiest airport since the pandemic.
MG’s local chief out amid sales slump and brawl with dealerships
Peter Ciao stood down as chief executive of the Chinese-run car maker in Australia and will be replaced by a senior figure from its parent, SAIC Motor.
Peter Fox on extended leave at Linfox as non-family directors step up
The son of the trucking magnate has been on sabbatical since December, with others outside the family appointed chairman of various logistics businesses.
BYD builds its cars for Australia in just 52 seconds. Next, the world
The Chinese EV giant’s global sales exceeded Tesla’s last year and the Australian market is a key proving ground for its international success.
Inside the strange fate of Flight 2069
Months before the September 11 attacks, a passenger seized control of a Boeing 747 and almost crashed it. Everyone survived, but no one quite recovered.
Tesla loses EV sales crown to China’s BYD
Tesla reported that its annual sales fell for a second consecutive year amid intensifying competition, particularly in Europe where BYD has surged ahead.
These luxury lodges are turning high-end tourism on its head
Growth in the high-end market is being driven by cashed-up travellers wanting to tap into the unique experiences Australia can provide.
