Two new start-up airlines for Australia

Canberra Airport could become a destination for one of two proposed start-up airlines looking to break into Australia’s highly competitive domestic aviation market.

The possibility follows the collapse of low-cost carrier Bonza, which had previously flagged plans to serve Canberra before entering administration and ceasing operations before any flights to the national capital could commence.

One of the new contenders is Koala Airlines, which has been actively promoting its proposed operations through online marketing campaigns, including mock-up images showing a Boeing 737 flying over Canberra. Chief executive Bill Astling previously indicated that the airline hoped to launch services later this year, subject to obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals and finalising its route network. However, there have been no significant public updates on the airline’s progress or launch timetable in recent months.

Another aspiring entrant, Zinc Airlines, has also outlined ambitious plans to enter the domestic market. The carrier is proposing an ultra-low-cost business model inspired by European budget airline Ryanair, claiming its fares could be lower than those currently offered by established low-cost operators such as Jetstar.

Zinc’s initial network plans focus on routes linking Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, with operations centred on the new Western Sydney Airport. Canberra does not feature in the airline’s proposed launch network, and no commencement date has been announced.

Under its longer-term expansion strategy, however, Zinc has indicated it would look to add additional destinations after approximately four years of operation, including Adelaide and the Gold Coast.

At present, neither Koala Airlines nor Zinc Airlines has secured approval to operate commercial passenger services in Australia. Both projects remain subject to regulatory approvals, commercial viability, and the many challenges associated with launching a new airline in an intensely competitive market.

Australia’s aviation history is littered with start-up carriers that began with great promise but ultimately failed to survive.

While the odds are undoubtedly challenging, I sincerely wish both Koala Airlines and Zinc Airlines every success as they work towards bringing greater competition and choice to Australian travellers.

Fake boarding pass helped United stowaway clear TSA

A man has attempted to fly from Houston (IAH/KIAH) to Los Angeles (LAX/KLAX) without a valid ticket by tailgating past a distracted United Airlines gate agent and boarding the aircraft with a fake boarding pass.

The incident on United Airlines flight UA 469 ended when the crew discovered the man had no seat on the full flight, forcing the aircraft to return to the gate, where federal authorities and an explosives detection team responded.

The man cleared TSA at Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport despite an initial problem with his boarding pass. Officers then escorted him to a separate TSA kiosk and then allowed him through security.

He then moved through the terminal and spoke with United Airlines employees at gate C35. His first boarding attempt came at gate E16, where he tried to scan a boarding pass twice. Both scans failed. He argued with a United Airlines employee and was turned away.

About an hour later, the man arrived at gate D4. He paced near the gate and watched staff scan boarding passes for the Los Angeles flight. When agents were busy with other passengers, he pretended to show a boarding pass and walked down the jetway onto the aircraft

The man sat in an aisle seat after boarding. The woman seated next to him said he appeared unsure whether the seat belonged to him. He left for the lavatory and returned about 15 minutes later.

By then, the correct passenger occupied the seat he had taken. He moved to another lavatory as the plane started to taxi. A passenger alerted a flight attendant, and the crew told the man to return to his seat. Instead, he hid in another lavatory at the back of the aircraft.

When the crew confronted him, he gave the name “Mr. Lopez.” He asked to sit in a jump seat because the flight was full. The crew checked the manifest and found no passenger named Lopez. The aircraft then returned to the gate.

Authorities met the aircraft at the gate. The response included the Houston Police Department, an explosives detection K9 unit, the FBI, the airport authority, and TSA. All passengers were deplaned, and crews checked the aircraft for explosives.

During questioning, the man gave his real name and date of birth. He showed a United Airlines confirmation number and a boarding pass. Investigators found that he had made a reservation, but it was never paid for. They described the boarding pass as possibly fake, noting missing information and a forged QR code.

The man was arrested and charged with his offences. 

Lufthansa Boeing 787 nose gear collapsed, injuring many

Several Lufthansa crew members and ground staff were injured on June 4, 2026, when the nose gear of a Lufthansa Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner collapsed. a statement, Lufthansa confirmed that no passengers had boarded at the time, as the nose gear had unexpectedly retracted while the aircraft was at Frankfurt Airport (FRA) around 12:45 local time.

LUFTHANSA AIRBUS A350-941 D-AIXJ (MSN 209)

Flight LH450, which was waiting at the gate, was due to travel from Frankfurt International Airport (FRA/EDDF) to Los Angeles International Airport, CA (LAX/KLAX) at 13.50

Passengers waiting to board the flight caught the moment the aircraft suddenly dropped to the ground, with someone in a safety jacket standing just a few meters away. Photos shared on social media show the plane immobilized after the incident. Lufthansa confirmed that the injured employees were receiving medical care following the collapse.

“We are currently investigating the exact circumstances together with the relevant authorities. Technicians and support staff are on site,” a spokesperson for Lufthansa said. “We will provide further information as soon as it becomes available.”

The aircraft in question was ferried to Germany from Boeing’s facilities in the US in January 2026 and only entered service in February 2026.

It is expected that the aircraft will spend a significant amount of time out of service while Lufthansa teams investigate the collapse and mend the damage caused.


Aircraft Information:

Airline: Lufthansa  

Code: LH/DLH

Aircraft: Boeing 787-9

Registration: D-ABPQ

Serial Number: 66827

Engines: 2 x RR Trent 1000

First Flew: 16th April 2025

Age: 1 Year 

Hawaiian Airlines cuts free meals on flights

HAWAIIAN AIRBUS A330-243 N380HA (1104)

Hawaiian Airlines, now under the control of Alaska Airlines, is doing away with one of the last perks for economy travelers: free meals on most flights between Hawaii and the mainland U.S. Starting on the 1st of July.  Main cabin passengers on these routes will no longer get complimentary meals anymore. Instead, the airline will roll out a pre-order dining program, letting travelers purchase meals in advance through its website or app, from two weeks up to 20 hours before departure. Meal prices will range from around $10 to $17.

According to the airline, Main cabin passengers flying between Honolulu and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport will still enjoy a complimentary meal. This marks a notable change for Hawaiian Airlines, which has long been known among U.S. carriers for offering free meals in economy on many long-haul flights.

“At the core of this transformation is what has always set Hawaiian Airlines apart: genuine Hawaiian hospitality,” said Alisa Onishi, Managing Director of Hawaiian Airlines. “We’ll continue offering the hallmarks of our service—free beverages, local snacks, and that little sweet treat at the end of the flight. We’re excited to introduce this new main cabin option, giving our guests a chance to experience and enjoy even more of what our island home has to offer.”

Hawaiian Airlines continues to operate under the Hawaiian brand, but it is part of the Alaska Air Group family alongside:

• Alaska Airlines
• Hawaiian Airlines
• Horizon Air
• McGee Air Services

Air New Zealand launches three new international routes from Christchurch

Air New Zealand has announced new non-stop international routes from Christchurch Airport (CHC/NZCH) to Singapore (SIN/WSSS), Tokyo (NRT/RJAA) and Perth (PER/YPPH), marking a significant expansion of the airline’s South Island operations.

The three new services, set to launch in late October and November 2026, are part of an agreement between Air New Zealand and Christchurch Airport to grow international connectivity into the region.
New routes and launch dates

The first Christchurch-Singapore service will depart on the 28th of October 2026, connecting the South Island directly to Singapore Changi Airport. Flights to Narita International Airport in Tokyo will begin on the 28th of November 2026, followed by Perth Airport on the 30th of November 2026

“This agreement between Air New Zealand and Christchurch Airport reflects a collective focus on long-term practical growth, strengthening direct connections and opening up more opportunities for the South Island,” Upston said.

These three routes aren’t entirely new for Air New Zealand. The airline has flown Christchurch-Singapore in 2020, Christchurch-Narita in 2015, and Christchurch-Perth in 2019.

United flight returns to Newark after Bluetooth security concern

A United Airlines flight traveling from New York to Spain returned to Newark Airport on the 30th of May 2026, after the name of a Bluetooth device on board triggered a major security concern.

UNITED AIRLINES BOEING 787-9 N29981 (MSN 66142)

United Flight 236 departed New York's Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR/KEWR) at about 18:00 local time for Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI/LEPA), Spain, and landed back at Newark at 21:37, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The Boeing 767 had 190 passengers and 12 crew members onboard.

Air traffic control audio indicated that the issue involved the name of a discoverable Bluetooth device on the aircraft. In the recording, a controller said a passenger had a Bluetooth device with a “certain four-letter word he didn't want to repeat” as its device name, requiring security personnel to inspect the aircraft, including the cargo area.

Flight tracking data showed the aircraft turning around while over the Atlantic several hundred miles from Newark and using the 7700-emergency squawk code.

According to posts online, the crew repeatedly asked passengers to switch off Bluetooth devices during the flight. One passenger mentioned the crew announced that two devices were still active despite multiple reminders.

The crew turned the aircraft back after communicating with United’s operations center in Chicago.

When the flight returned to Newark, passengers exited the plane using airstairs while Port Authority police conducted a search. They then passed through TSA and Customs and Border Protection screening before boarding a replacement plane with a fresh crew.

The replacement flight departed early on the 31st of May and later arrived in Palma de Mallorca.

This incident comes after several recent cases where wireless device names have set off security alerts on commercial flights.

• In January 2026, a Turkish Airlines Airbus A321 flying from Istanbul to Barcelona landed at Barcelona-El Prat Airport after a passenger reportedly named their mobile hotspot with a bomb threat. Spanish authorities searched the plane and found nothing suspicious. Turkish Airlines stated they would take legal action once the passenger responsible was identified.

• On the 10th of May 2026, a KLM flight from Málaga to Amsterdam was delayed for several hours after a Wi-Fi hotspot name indicated there was a bomb onboard. KLM said it treated the threat seriously and coordinated with local authorities.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: United Airlines 

Code: AU/UAL

Aircraft: Boeing 767-424(ER)

Registration: N67052

Serial Number: 29447

Engines: 2 x GE CF6-80C2B7F

First Flew: 9th September 2000

Age: 25 Years 

Giving the new camera body a run

Last Thursday, I finally bought the camera body I’ve been dreaming about for ages—the Canon R6 Mark II. It comes with an R mount, but since my current camera and lenses use EOS mounts, I also had to pick up an EOS-to-R mount converter which took a few days to come in.

On Sunday we heard that three exciting aircraft were arriving in Brisbane, so my family and I headed to the airport to see these aircraft and to try out my new camera.

The three arrivals were;

• Virgin Australia Regional (VAR) Embraer E190 E2
• Nexus Dash 8 400
• United States Freedom Plane Boeing 737

The VAR E2 left Miami on the 27th of March and made its way to Perth (PER), Western Australia, where it will be based. Its journey took it from Miami (OPF) to Tucson (TUS), then to Kailua-Kona (KOA), Nadi (NAN), and on to Brisbane (BNE) arriving at 3.30pm Sunday afternoon the 31st of May. It departed Brisbane for Perth yesterday at 12:22 p.m.

Next was the Nexus Dash 8 Q400, this aircraft flew from Perth (PER) to Brisbane (BNE) via Ayres Rock (AYQ). Nexus is an established airline in Western Australia, but after winning a mining contract here in Brisbane, they flew one of the aircraft over here for when the contact kicks off today. (I apologies for the distant photo, I thought it would have come down past me, but it turned left and headed of in another direction)

The third, and last exciting arrival was the Freedom Plane, a USA Boeing 737-7BC. This aircraft was blocked so I'm not sure where it came from.

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA REGIONAL EMBRAER E190-E2 VH-E2D (MSN 19020221)

EMIRATES AIRBUS A380-861A6-EOF (MSN 171)

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA BOEING 737-8SA VH-IJU (MSN 44223)
VA331ARRIVING FROM MELBOURNE (MEL) 11 YEARS

QANTASLINK AIRBUS A220-300 VH-X4J (MSN 55409)
QLK1282 ARRIVING FROM ADELAIDE (ADL) 6 MONTHS

SINGAPORE AIRLINES AIRBUS A350-941 9V-SHM (MSN 379)
SQ265 ARRIVING FROM SINGAPORE (SIN) 6 YEARS

QANTAS AIRBUS A330-202 VH-EBS (MSN 1258)
QF53 OFF TO SINGAPORE (SIN) 14 YEARS

JETSTAR AIRBUS A321-251NX VH-OYR (MSN 12160)
JQ59 OFF TO DENPASAR (DPS) 1 YEAR

NEXUS AIRLINES DASH 8 Q400 VH-8XC (MSN 4331)
CT602 ARRIVING FROM AYRES ROCK (AYQ) 16 YEARS

AERLINK ATR 72-500 VH-FVY (MSN840)
AL821 ARRIVING FROM CHARLEVILLE (CTL) 17 YEARS

BOEING COMPANY (FREEDOM PLANE) BOEING 737-7BC N836BA (MSN 30756)

QANTAS BOEING 737-8SA VH-XZT (MSN 44230)
QF536 ARRIVING FROM SYDNEY (SYD) 10 YEARS

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA BOEING 737-8SA VH-IJR (MSN 44219)
VA1224 OFF TO CANBERRA (CBR) 12 YEARS

QATAR AIRWAYS AIRBUS A350-1041 A7-ANC (MSN 110)
QR898 ARRIVING FROM DOHA (DOH) 7 YEARS

JETSTAR AIRBUS A321-251NX VH-OFU (MSN 11292)
JQ566 ARRIVING FROM MELBOURNE (MEL) 3 YEARS

QANTAS AIRBUS A321-251NY VH-OGA (MSN 12323)
QF538 ARRIVING FROM SYDNEY (SYD) 1 YEAR

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA BOEING 737-7FE VH-VBY (MSN 34323)
VA346 OFF TO MELBOURNE (MEL) 20 YEARS

QANTAS AIRBUS A330-202 VH-EBD (MSN 513)
QF540 ARRIVING FROM SYDNEY (SYD) 23 YEARS