WEEKLY REVIEW: Sunday, 2 August, 2026

Hello travellers,

It’s been a relatively quiet week in the aviation industry. However, it has been enlivened by the pending release of Alan Joyce’s recounting of his years at Qantas.

Joe Aston, who wrote what I regard as the definitive piece on that period of Qantas history in ‘The Chairman’s Lounge ‘, is scathing in his assessment of the Joyce recounting in the Australian Financial Review. To give you an idea of the tone, its headline is ‘Alan Joyce, the king of delusions‘.

What happened last week?

Alan Joyce has started his Public Relations tour for the release of his self-authored book about his time at Qantas next week, ‘Riding the Jet Stream’.

Two new prospective domestic airlines for Australia, Zinc and Koala Airlines have been in the news, both with changes in strategy.

Qatar Airways is altering some of its services to Auckland New Zealand by making them via Brisbane and Melbourne rather than the current via Adelaide service. 

Next week

I have a quick domestic trip planned, but otherwise I am confined to Sydney this week.

More instalments in the Oh Canada! trip report should be posted this week.

In the meantime, check that your travel insurance is up to date, keep up your vaccinations, check Smartraveller before international flights, and travel safely.

Until next week . . .

Stephen

2PAXfly

ZINC AIRLINES: Australia’s would-be Ryanair hits its first patch of clear air turbulence

By 2paxfly on 01 Aug 2026 10:03 am

When 2PAXfly first wrote about Zinc Airlines in May 2026, the proposed ultra-low-cost carrier had a simple pitch. That was to raise $200 million, base itself at Western Sydney International Airport, fill Airbus A321neos with up to 232 passengers and sell fares below Jetstar’s prices. Two months later, its already got more complicated. Zinc is […] Read in browser »

KOALA AIRLINES: Not a domestic airline, but an international charter feeder

By 2paxfly on 31 Jul 2026 2:17 pm

Koala Airlines has finally revealed something resembling a business model. Strangely, although a huge pivot, it may make more sense than the previous collection of promises, aircraft renderings and mysterious non-statements. Rather than confronting Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia across Australia’s major domestic routes, Koala now proposes operating charter flights on behalf of international airlines. […] Read in browser »

QANTAS: Ex CEO Alan Joyce boards his reputational rescue flight with ‘Riding the Jet Stream’

By 2paxfly on 28 Jul 2026 5:00 pm

Former Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce has published Alan Joyce: Riding the Jet Stream. It’s a 464-page attempt to explain how he became one of Australia’s most successful corporate leaders. And, by the end, one of its least popular. Published by Hardie Grant today (28 July 2026), the memoir follows Joyce from his working-class Dublin […] Read in browser »

QATAR AIRWAYS: takes Qsuites to Auckland, New Zealand, via Melbourne and Brisbane. New way to cross the Tasman

By 2paxfly on 28 Jul 2026 12:14 pm

Qatar Airways is preparing to reshuffle its Auckland service through Australia, ending the fifth-freedom flights via Adelaide and creating two new daily trans-Tasman options, but not at the same time. The via Adelaide flights to Auckland will cease on 16 September 2026. From December 2026, the airline will extend its Doha–Melbourne flight to Auckland. Seven […] Read in browser »

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