WEEKLY REVIEW: Sunday 22 June, 2026

Greetings from Sydney! I’m back after three weeks in Canada. I’ve crossed the country from Vancouver on the west coast to St John’s in Newfoundland, I think the most easterly point.

Unfortunately, it was a bit of a city visit rather than time spent in nature. Cities visited in no particular order included Vancouver (with a huge number of soccer (football) fans, Montreal, Ottawa, and St John’s.

What happened last week?

Virgin Australia features this week for good and bad. Bigger Boeing 737-10s are on the way, and, under pressure, it has extended the time you can travel using COVID-era credits.

Australia has downgraded its travel warnings for several Middle East countries, so that transit through them is less likely to invalidate your travel insurance. Boeing, on the other hand, is experiencing bird strikes that lead to cabin smoke.

On the Ultra Long Haul front, Qantas announced its first route, for Project Sunrise and Turkish delayed its direct, non-stop flights to Australia. 

Next week

It’s good to be back in my home city. Ottawa and Vancouver might have been warmer, but they have other issues. I was a little shocked at the level of homelessness, drug use and untreated mental illness evident on the streets in these Canadian cities.

Having said that, the Art Gallery in Ottawa was sensational, as was the indigenous art we discovered at the Canadian Museum of History.

In the meantime, check your travel insurance is up to date, keep up your vaccinations, and travel safely.

Until next week . . .

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: Extends COVID credits usage, but redemption date stays 30 June 2026

By 2paxfly on 19 Jun 2026 4:21 pm

Virgin Australia has made a late concession on its COVID-era travel credits, extending the travel period for eligible credits issued between 21 April 2020 and 31 July 2022. Passengers still need to book by 30 June 2026, but they can now travel up to 27 May 2027. That is a useful change. The money must […] Read in browser »

MIDDLE EAST: Australia eases travel warnings for key Gulf transit hubs

By 2paxfly on 18 Jun 2026 1:11 pm

Australian travellers heading to Europe, the UK or Africa via the Middle East have been handed some qualified good news. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Smartraveller advice website have lowered advice for Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates from Level 4, “Do not travel”, to Level 3, […] Read in browser »

QANTAS: Project Sunrise announces first route, Sydney to London non-stop. Surprise, surprise!

By 2paxfly on 18 Jun 2026 6:01 am

CEO Vanessa Hudson just travelled to Airbus’ Toulouse headquarters to announce that London, from Sydney, would be the first Project Sunrise route, followed by New York. Is that really news? We knew it had to be an east coast departure, so that’s Sydney or Melbourne (Brisbane doesn’t have a First Class lounge, so no, not […] Read in browser »

TURKISH AIRLINES: Non-stop Australia flights delayed until 2027

By 2paxfly on 17 Jun 2026 7:45 am

Turkish Airlines’ promised non-stop flights between Istanbul and Australia have slipped again, with Sydney now expected by the end of 2027 and Melbourne pushed into 2028. That is the bad news. Turkish Airlines plans to fly a specially configured Airbus A350-1000, heavy on premium seats, fitted with the airline’s new Crystal business class suites to […] Read in browser »

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: biggest Boeing 737 is coming — eventually

By 2paxfly on 16 Jun 2026 7:14 am

Virgin Australia has put a date, of sorts, on the next stage of its fleet renewal. It expects to receive its first Boeing 737-10 in late 2027. That’s like more than 12 months away. The PR department must have been light on for stories to report for this to be a media release! The 737-10 […] Read in browser »

BOEING: Bird strikes, smoke and the cabin air problem that won’t go away

By 2paxfly on 14 Jun 2026 9:29 pm

There are bird strikes. There are fume events. And then there are bird strikes that lead to smoke or oil mist entering the cockpit and/or cabin. That is the issue now ruffling feathers around Boeing’s 737 MAX, its LEAP-1B engines, and the regulators charged with deciding whether this is a rare but alarming event needs […] Read in browser »

Recent Articles:

WEEKLY REVIEW: Sunday 14 June, 2026
QANTAS: introduces confirmed upgrades with cash
WESTERN SYDNEY AIRPORT: Finally an opening date, and Jetstar gets first dibs
RIYADH AIR: New aviation deal with Saudi Arabia puts passenger flight on Australia’s horizon