WEEKLY REVIEW: Sunday 3 May, 2026
Greetings from Sydney. My month-long stay in the UK has come to an end, and I’m back home to enjoy the dwindling warmth of Autumn.
It was a great time catching up with friends, seeing way too much theatre, and adding to my long list of galleries, museums, and artworks visited.
What happened last week?
Again, the Middle East conflict is dominating aviation news, causing one in four flights to be cancelled across the globe. Qantas is cutting domestic flights while extending seasonal flights to Paris and Rome.
Virgin Australia, along with Qatar, is restoring its Doha-Australia network starting this month, with Virgin flights recommencing in June. Even Fiji Airways is cutting its international services to Dallas-Fort Worth.
In more positive news, Emirates is launching free Starlink WiFi and promising a step change with its new First Class suites. On the domestic front, an open skies agreement has been concluded between Australia and Canada that should see flights to greater frequencies and more Canadian destinations.
Next week
With a review trip just concluded, I hope to start rolling out posts based on my experience from next week. Expect reviews of my experience on Turkish Airlines, British Airways, and a flight with Qantas on their wet-leased A330s from Finnair with one of my favourite Business Class products, the AirLounge.
Having caught a cold on my travels, what is it with people who cough and sneeze without covering their mouths and noses? Remember that wearing masks helps prevent the transmission of airborne diseases.
Until next week . . .
QANTAS: More cuts to domestic flights but flights to Paris and Rome extended
By 2paxfly on 02 May 2026 3:14 pm
Qantas has confirmed it will extend its 5% reduction in domestic capacity through to September, stretching what was initially a short-term cut from May–June into a full winter slowdown. Its low-cost sibling Jetstar is following suit, with both airlines also trimming flights across the Tasman and within New Zealand. For travellers, that means fewer flights, […] Read in browser »
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: Restarting Doha flights with Qatar Airways from June
By 2paxfly on 02 May 2026 2:46 pm
Although Qatar Airways has resumed some of its Australian network flights as of 1 May, Virgin Australia’s wet-leased flights using Qatar Airways aircraft are not returning until June The return to the wet lease agreement is cautious because of the Middle East conflict. Virgin Australia has confirmed its Doha flights will resume from mid-June, but […] Read in browser »
QATAR AIRWAYS: Network begins to rebound restoring Australian flights
By 2paxfly on 02 May 2026 2:02 pm
Qatar Airways is ramping up flights to Australia, restoring capacity after months of disruption caused by Middle East airspace closures. From May, the Doha-based carrier is progressively returning to a full schedule across Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, with daily flights reinstated after a period of reduced services. Australian routes return to daily services Sydney, Melbourne […] Read in browser »
INTERNATIONAL FLYING: Middle East conflict and fuel crisis cuts one in four flights
By 2paxfly on 30 Apr 2026 9:34 pm
Almost a quarter of international flights from Australia were cancelled in April. That’s according to the AFR, as airlines scrambled to deal with soaring fuel prices and widespread airspace disruptions. The trigger is the escalating conflict involving Iran, which has effectively shut down large parts of Gulf airspace since late February. That has hit the […] Read in browser »
EMIRATES: Talk of First Class private suites with en suite bathrooms
By 2paxfly on 30 Apr 2026 11:30 am
Rumours are mounting that Emirates could be working on a new First Class concept featuring private suites with their own en-suite bathrooms. It sounds ambitious, but this is the airline that already put showers on board the Airbus A380 and introduced fully enclosed suites on the Boeing 777. If any airline is likely to push […] Read in browser »
QANTAS: New open skies deal between Australia and Canada opens more flights and destinations
By 2paxfly on 30 Apr 2026 6:51 am
A new open skies agreement between Australia and Canada has removed limits on flights between the two countries, giving Qantas the green light to expand its services. The updated air services arrangement allows unlimited passenger capacity for Australian carriers, replacing the previous cap that effectively limited Qantas to a daily Sydney–Vancouver Boeing 787 service. Although […] Read in browser »
FIJI AIRWAYS: Dallas USA flights dropped from September
By 2paxfly on 30 Apr 2026 6:00 am
Fiji Airways is reshaping its network, cutting its Dallas route while boosting capacity on other key services amid rising fuel costs. The airline will suspend flights between Nadi and Dallas Fort Worth from 7 September, marking a retreat from one of its longest and most operationally demanding routes. That removes a non-stop option between Fiji […] Read in browser »
EMIRATES: A380s to get Starlink WiFi
By 2paxfly on 30 Apr 2026 12:08 am
The first Starlink-equipped superjumbo is now in service, marking the start of a rollout the airline says will extend across its entire fleet by mid-2027. And, it’s free. Emirates is ditching its current pay-to-use model, which charges up to around US$20, in favour of complimentary high-speed access for all passengers. Whether you’re in First or […] Read in browser »
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