Virgin Australia's first ever retro livery arrives in Brisbane

Yesterday, I made my way to the airport for the second day in a row, but this time my wife and daughter came along. Something exciting was happening, and none of us wanted to miss such a truly special occasion. The eagerly awaited Virgin Australia Retro livery was arriving from Seattle with a stopover in Honolulu.

Virgin Australia is celebrating a big moment in its 25-year history, rolling out its first-ever retro livery on a new Boeing 737-8, signaling an exciting new era for the airline. The bold all-red design, unveiled at Boeing’s Seattle facility, pays tribute to the carrier’s Virgin Blue roots while looking forward to fleet upgrades and steady expansion.

Named Lake Centenary, the jet is the 150th Boeing 737 delivered to the airline since Virgin Blue launched in 2000, and the 100th 737 flying in Australia’s active fleet. Its vivid red paintwork recalls the branding that defined its early years and helped build its identity. The retro look “pays homage to the airline’s Virgin Blue days (2000–2011), a legacy that shaped the brand today.” 

After spending an hour at the international terminal, the aircraft was towed to the Virgin hangar, where a staff party was underway.

Registered VH‑8VI (MSN 67039), it’s one of twelve 737‑8s arriving this year, part of a wider renewal plan that also brings four Embraer E190‑E2s to its Virgin Australia Regional Airlines (VARA), showing the group’s focus on a modern, efficient, and adaptable fleet.

The last original Virgin Blue aircraft registered VH-VUL (MSN 36603, completed its repainting into the standard Virgin Australia livery in February 2015

VUL TAKEN JULY 2014

Virgin Australia has gone from having no special liveries to unveiling two at once. The latest is the Toy Story livery, which has finally arrived in Brisbane, so I’ll be heading to the airport for the third day in a row to catch it.

Emirates and Qatar cleared for Western Sydney

Emirates and Qatar Airways, two of the world’s biggest airlines, are moving closer to starting daily flights from the new Western Sydney International (WSI) Airport.

The flights would tap into the airport’s local catchment area, with around three million people living within an hour’s travel and make use of its 24-hour operation to sync with connecting flights from other curfew-free hubs like Dubai and Doha.

The Federal Government has just announced it had approved Qatar and the United Arab Emirates for “additional passenger capacity of seven passenger services per week through the new Western Sydney International Airport as an international arrival and departure destination.”

Although the UAE agreement would also cover Etihad Airways, Emirates boasts a much larger fleet and more extensive network, including a long-standing schedule of three daily flights between Sydney and Dubai.

None of the Gulf carriers have yet confirmed plans to include Western Sydney International in their routes. Unlike Sydney’s Kingsford Smith, which enforces a curfew from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., Western Sydney International is promoting its 24-hour operations as a major advantage for drawing international flights.

Singapore Airlines – which will begin flying from Western Sydney on the 23rd of November has advertised an 11:55pm departure, touching down at Changi at 5:05am the following day.

Chasing the Virgin Australia's Toy Story livery

On the 17th of May the Virgin Australia Boeing 737-8FE (VH-YFY) featuring the Toy Story livery arrived in Melbourne from Singapore.

Since then, I have been following its movements hoping it would come to Brisbane, and according to flightradar24 yesterday, it was performing Melbourne - Sydney - Brisbane then up to Cairns and return.

So yesterday, I got up early and headed to the airport, expecting the arrival at 9:30, only to find out it was heading back to Melbourne. Saying I was frustrated and disappointed would be an understatement.

Since I’d already paid in advance for parking, I thought I might as well stick around for a few hours.

(According to FlightRadar24 it is scheduled to arrive this afternoon, so we will see how we go)

EMIRATES AIRBUS A380-861 A6-EOD (MSN 168)

QANTASLINK DASH 8-400 VH-QON (MSN 4218)
QLK320D OFF TO BUNDABERG (BDB) 17 YEARS

VIRGIN AUSTARALIA BOEING 737-8FE VH-YFL (MSN 41002)
VA605 OFF TO MACKAY (MKY) 14 YEARS

KOREAN AIR BOEING 787-9 HL7206 (MSN 34815)
KE408 OFF TO SEOUL (ICN) 7 YEARS

JETSTAR AIRBUS A321-251NX VH-OFU (MSN 11292)
JQ7993 OFF TO SYDNEY (SYD) 3 YEARS
FERRY FLIGHT

PHILIPPINE AIRLINES AIRBUS A321-271N RP-C9936 (MSN 8619)
PR221 ARRIVING FROM MANILA (MNL) 7 YEARS

JETSTAR AIRBUS A320-232 VH-X3B (MSN 4772)
JQ930 OFF TO CAIRNS (CNS) 14 YEARS

ALLIANCE AIRLINES FOKKER 100 VH-UQG (MSN 11520)
VA1235 OFF TO ROCKHAMPTON (ROK) 31 YEARS
FLYING FOR VIRGIN AUSTRALIA

JETSTAR BOEING 787-8 VH-VKB (MSN 36228)
JQ66 ARRIVING FROM BANGKOK (BKK) 12 YEARS

QANTAS BOEING 737-838 VH-XZJ (MSN 39365)
QF57 OFF TO PORT MORESBY (POM) 12 YEARS

ALLIANCE AIRLINES FOKKER 100 VH-UQN (MSN 11361)
VA1102 OFF TO NEWCASTLE (NTL) 34 YEARS
FLYING FOR VIRGIN AUSTRALIA 

QANTASLINK EMBRAER E190AR VH-UYB (MSN 19000012)
QF1800 ARRIVING FROM ADELAIDE (ADL) 21 YEARS
PERFORMING A GO AROUND

AIR NIUGINI BOEING 767-341 P2-PXV (MSN 30341)
PX3 ARRIVING FROM PORT MORESBY (POM) 26 YEARS

QANTAS AIRBUS A321-271NY VH-OGA (MSN 12123)
QF515 OFF TO SYDNEY (SYD) 1 YEAR

AIR NEW ZEALAND AIRBUS A321-271NX ZK-NNI (MSN 12593)
NZ272 OFF TO WELLINGTON (WEL) 10 MONTHS

JETSTAR BOEING 787-9 VH-VKF (MSN 36231)
JQ9 OFF TO TOKYO (NRT) 11 YEARS 

SINGAPORE AIRLINES AIRBUS A350-941 9V-SHF (MSN 305)
SQ255 ARRIVING FROM SINGAPORE (SIN) 7 YEARS

NAURU AIRLINES BOEING 737-36N VH-PNI (MSN 28555)
IE726 OFF TO LUGANVILLE (SON) 29 YEARS

QANTAS AIRBUS A330-203 VH-EBG (MSN 887)

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA BOEING 737 MAX 8 VH-8IG (MSN 66648)
VA45 OFF TO DENPASAR (DPS) 2 YEARS

BOMBARDIER GLOBAL EXPRESS VH-FGJ (MSN 9163)

ALLIANCE AIRLINES FOKKER 70 VH-NUU (MSN 11532)
QQ2835 ARRIVING FROM MORANBAH (MOV) 31 YEARS

CHINA AIRLINES AIRBUS A350-941 B-18907 (MSN 105)
CI53 ARRIVING FROM TAIPEI (TPE) 9 YEARS

CHINA SOUTHERN AIRLINES AIRBUS A330-323 B-8359 (MSN 1714)
CZ382 OFF TO GUANGZHOU (CAN) 10 YEARS

SINGAPORE AIRLINES AIRBUS A350-941 9V-SHU (MSN 469)
SQ256 OFF TO SINGAPORE (SIN) 5 YEARS

QANTAS BOEING 737-838 VH-VZE (MSN 34199)
QF519 OFF TO SYDNEY (SYD) 17 YEARS

QANTASLINK EMBRAER E190AR VH-UZF (MSN 19000166)
QF353 OFF TO PORT VILA (VLI) 18 YEARS

AIR NEW ZEALAND BOEING 777-367 ZK-OKU (MSN 36157)
NZ145 ARRIVING FROM AUCKLAND (AKL) 17 YEARS

AERLINK ATR72-500 VH-FVY (MSN 840)
AL415 ARRIVING FROM MORANBAH (MOV) 17 YEARS

AIR CANADA BOEING 787-9 C-FEGI (MSN 66993)
AC36 OFF TO VANCOUVER (YVR) 14 MONTHS

Looking back on Singapore Airlines flight SQ321

SINGAPORE AIRLINES BOEING 777-312 9V-SWJ (MSN 34575)

 

On the 22nd of May 2024, a Singapore Airlines flight from London (LHR/EGLL) to Singapore (SIN/WSSS) hit severe turbulence, resulting in one passenger’s death and injuries to at least 71 others.

The aircraft departed from Heathrow Airport at 22:38, around half an hour behind its scheduled departure time of 22:05. The aircraft initially climbed to 31,000 feet before proceeding to 37,000 feet just after passing India. It was not long after that when the disaster started.

The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft was diverted to Bangkok (BKK/VTBS), as stated in a Singapore Airlines Facebook post. The post mentioned that there were 211 passengers and 18 crew members on board. Initially, the company reported that 30 passengers were injured during the mid-flight disturbance and were receiving hospital treatment, while others were given outpatient care at the airport.

Sadly a 73-year-old British man was the deceased individual, as confirmed by Kittipong Kittikachorn, the General Manager of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

The flight made its landing in the Thai capital at 3:45 p.m. local time (4:45 a.m. ET) on Tuesday.

Kittikachorn informed the media that he had been notified of the emergency landing 10 minutes prior to its arrival. He noted that several passengers suffered broken arms, although most injuries were minor, such as cuts and bruises.

He further stated that some of the injured were transported to Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital nearby, and nearly 200 passengers were awaiting their onward flights.

The hospital later updated that at least 71 individuals were injured, including nationals from Malaysia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Spain, the United States, and Ireland, with six suffering severe injuries. There were 61 Australian's onboard, 8 of those were taken to hospital in a serious condition.

Media reports states Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 experienced turbulence over Myanmar at around 7:49 a.m. UTC (3:49 a.m. ET). This information corresponds with the airline's report that the aircraft encountered severe turbulence over the Irrawaddy Basin in Myanmar at an altitude of 37,000 feet, roughly 10 hours after takeoff.

It has been reported that they were cruising at 37,000 feet, suddenly dropping around 5,000 feet then rapidly climbing a few hundred feet before dropping and climbing again before finally settling back at its cruising altitude. The entire disruption took about 90 seconds, according to the passengers, but resulted in dozens of injuries, including a fatality.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: Singapore Airlines

Code: SQ/SIA

Aircraft: Boeing 777-312ER

Registration: 9V-SWM (Star Alliance Livery)

Serial Number: 34578

Engines: 2 x GE GE90-115B

First Flew: 19th February 2008

Age: 16 Years 

Nexus Airlines is advertising for cabin crew

Nexus Airlines was founded in Western Australia and is focused on improving regional air access. Since commencing operations in 2023, the airline has built a reputation for reliable, efficient services supported by a modern fleet of six 76-seat Dash 8 Q400 NextGen aircraft and a team of experienced aviation professionals. With established regional bases and a strong commitment to operational excellence, Nexus continues to strengthen connectivity across Western Australia and is expanding its footprint with a new operational base in Brisbane, extending its reach and enhancing access across northern Australia. 

Nexus Airlines is seeking highly skilled and experienced Cabin Crew to join our team based in Brisbane

About the role

As Cabin Crew you will be the face of our company through providing a memorable in-flight experience to our customers. Working as a part of a small team you will be responsible to ensure inflight cabin safety while maintaining a high level of customer service.

Key duties and responsibilities of the role include:

• Performing inflight cabin safety functions, managing the aircraft cabin, and identifying safety matters
• Building rapport and trust in your peers and making positive contributions to the working environment
• Providing excellent customer service making every flight memorable for our passengers
• Ensure constant and effective communication between crew and team members
• Display a respect for cultural diversity and assist guests that may require extra assistance
• Maintain skills, knowledge, and physical ability to perform all emergency procedures
• Display a professional standard of behaviour, personal presentation, and a positive attitude at all times

To be successful in this role:

Safety and Customer Service will be part of your DNA. As a Flight Attendant, you will need to possess excellent time management skills with the ability to think on your feet. You will need to enjoy working with people from all walks of life and have a genuine interest in wanting to make our customers experience with us and enjoyable one. A natural passion for people, ability to remain composed and calm under pressure, and be resilient in unforeseen circumstances such as medical emergencies is essential as well as the following:

• Current Senior First Aid Certificate with CPR and 12-month validity
• Ability to swim 50m unaided while fully clothed and tread water for 3 minutes unassisted
• Height requirements between 163cm and 183cm
• Minimum age of 18 years
• Maintain a high level of grooming and personal presentation
• Successfully complete a pre-employment health assessment including drug and alcohol pathology screening
• Availability to attend Ground School in Perth
• Ability to obtain an Aviation Security Identification card (ASIC)
• Hold a current motor vehicle driver’s license
• Possess a high level of both written and spoken English (Language Proficiency Level 6)
• Valid passport with minimum 18 months validity
• Hold Australian citizenship / residency or be a citizen of New Zealand

What we offer you

• An attractive salary
• Personal development opportunities to grow in a diverse, inclusive company 
• A great team environment
• Salary Sacrifice / salary packaging benefits 

Candidates must be available to commence training in Perth.
To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume outlining your relevant qualifications and experience.
Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

If you are interested, you can apply here
https://au.seek.com/job/92224835?tracking=SHR-IOS-SharedJob-anz-1

T’way one step closer to rebranding as Trinity

South Korean budget airline T’way has gotten the green light from domestic authorities to rebrand and change its name to Trinity Airways. As reported by AJP News Agency, the airline confirmed on the 18th of May 2026, that South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport had issued a revised license.

The rebrand was first announced in September last year, following T’way’s acquisition by Daemyung Sono Group in February 2025, and was approved by shareholders at the group’s annual meeting in March 2026. The airline now awaits clearance from foreign aviation regulators before officially adopting the new name. A company spokesperson called the license approval an important first step, emphasizing that safety and service quality will remain top priorities during the transition.

The ministry has also instructed the airline to keep consumers informed about the changes and to maintain its safety management system.

On the T’way website it states: 

“Operations will begin once all approval procedures from relevant domestic and international authorities are completed, which generally takes several months. The official start date will be announced separately once finalized.”

T’way will continue to use the airline code TW and familiar flight numbers following the name change and rebranding.

On official registration documents, the company’s name has already been changed to Trinity Airways, but operations and communications will only be updated once all the necessary approvals are given.

The name "Trinity" originates from the Latin Trinitas. It symbolizes the group's strategy to merge three core pillars of travel: aviation, accommodation, and tourism services.

The end is near for Asiana Airlines

Asiana Airlines will take its final flight on the 17th of December 2026, nearly 40 years after its founding, as it merges into rival Korean Air following a $2 billion takeover that will propel the flag carrier into the world’s top ten airlines. 

ASIANA AIRBUS A330-323 HL7746 (MSN 772)

The take over means Asiana will leave the Star Alliance group since Korean Air is part of SkyTeam, but the Asiana Club loyalty program will continue for another decade, offering status matches to Korean Air Skypass tiers and allowing mileage transfers. The airline has already shifted from Incheon’s Terminal 1 to Korean Air’s Terminal 2 hub, where upgraded business and first-class lounges will more than double seating capacity from 898 to 1,560 passengers. 

Asiana has operated as a Korean Air subsidiary since the late-2024 merger, with the 17th of December marking its full legal incorporation and dissolution as a company. The brand will fade gradually, remaining visible on aircraft for a transition period while digital platforms and service systems switch over first, and aircraft liveries change in phases. The unified fleet will total around 250 planes, though the future of Asiana’s Airbus A380s remains under review as Korean Air finalizes its post-merger network plans.