Aviation's clash of the titans

We often talk about the duopoly in Australia's airline sector – but if you ever needed proof of its power, you'll find it in the latest eye-popping data from the ACCC, which shows Qantas Group and Virgin between them operated almost 99 per cent of all domestic flights in the back half of 2025. With Rex's domestic jets and Bonza's point-to-point flights a distant memory, we return to the age-old question: can any new contender hope to carve out a niche for itself in a market dominated by the two warring giants of the skies? In this week's Australian Aviation Podcast, Jake and David dissect the ACCC's newest domestic airline competition report and once again ask who – if anyone – could break the duopoly's stranglehold on Australia's airspace. Plus, the first tickets go on sale at Western Sydney International Airport, and how many regional markets have room for more than one carrier?

Australians' love affair with Bali is nothing new, but it sure does seem we're seeing a lot of new and expanded flights there over the past few months – from Jetstar to AirAsia, Avalon to Newcastle, our biggest overseas holiday destination seems to be enjoying a real moment in the sun. But as Jetstar begins flights connecting through Bali to Singapore and AirAsia offers a smorgasbord of onward fly-through services, could Denpasar become more than just an endpoint for Australian travellers and evolve into a hub in its own right? On this week's Australian Aviation Podcast, Jake and David take a (metaphorical) trip to Bali and examine just why it appears to be so popular lately – and what it can offer for aviation beyond just the Aussie tourism crowd. Plus, a caveat emptor from the ACCC for anyone who might be planning to fly through the Gulf any time soon, and will Australia finally ditch the notorious yellow incoming passenger card?

It's a safe bet that before a few weeks ago, not a lot of us would have been able to name the Strait of Hormuz, let alone point to it on a map – but now that it's become one of the biggest geopolitical headaches on the planet (and the reason petrol prices are skyrocketing), suddenly that unassuming body of water is a household name. More pressingly for aviation, of course, is the fact that the conduit for a fifth of the world's oil has been choked off, meaning jet fuel is suddenly harder to come by. Airlines are raising costs and slashing services to compensate, and there are worried noises from some corners about how much exactly we have in reserve – so, how concerned should we be, exactly? On this week's Australian Aviation Podcast, Jake and David drill into the Middle East oil crisis, how it's affecting Australian airlines, and whether sustainable aviation fuel might help safeguard against future shocks. Plus, the first report is out into slot usage at Sydney Airport – so are the big airlines really "gaming the system"?

High airfares are a continual thorn in the side of Australian travellers, and especially those in the regions – which is one reason why Tim Jordan embarked on his ill-fated attempt to be "here for Allstralia" with Bonza, flying point-to-point regional services with a low-cost ethos. After a couple of years out of the limelight, Jordan has put his head back above the ramparts with a submission to the Productivity Commission pointing the finger squarely at the dominance of the big airlines – particularly Qantas – as a major contributor to the high cost of flying from the regions. On this week's Australian Aviation Podcast, Jake and David examine Jordan's arguments and ask once again how Australia can bring more competition to its skies – and bring those soaring ticket prices back to earth. Plus, updates from the Gulf as limited commercial flights resume and the RAAF sends reconnaissance planes to ward off Iranian strikes.

There is, as a wise journalist (no, not us, we said "wise") has pointed out, always an aviation angle. As Iranian bombs rained down across the Gulf following strikes by the US and Israel, countries like the UAE and Qatar suddenly found themselves uncomfortably less insulated than they thought, with even airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi being damaged in the crossfire. Unfortunately, these countries also happen to be major global aviation hubs, and thousands of flights over the past few days have been cancelled, leaving passengers stranded – which raises the question: in the wake of the chaos, will cautious flyers start avoiding Europe flights through places like Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi in favour of less volatile hubs like Singapore and Hong Kong? On this week's Australian Aviation Podcast, Jake and guest host Bethany Alvaro examine the Iran conflict's impact on aviation and ask whether Australian airlines and travellers have put too many of their eggs in the Gulf's basket. Plus, half-yearly results are out for airlines on both sides of the Tasman – which carriers had a better six months than the others?

After decades of will-they-won't-they, the government seems determined to press on with high-speed rail from Sydney to Newcastle (honestly pinky promise for real this time) as the first stage of an ambitious plan to connect the eastern corridor all the way from Melbourne to Brisbane. If all goes ahead, then, what will that mean for aviation on the east coast? Could Australia finally see more competition on the Golden Triangle from an entirely different source – and will airports reap the benefits nonetheless? On this week's Australian Aviation Podcast, Jake and David dig into the government's business case for high-speed rail and discuss whether it will actually happen – and whether it would be friend or foe to the air transport sector. Plus, Daniel Croft from AI Daily returns to the show to go through some of the latest forays into aviation from our ever-present robot overlords.

Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the airport, the debate over noisy aircraft – excuse us, "sky kittens" – has reared its head once again, with community advocates calling for a curfew in Brisbane. According to the Brisbane Flight Path Community Alliance (BFPCA), curtailing the sky kittens' purring with a nightly curfew would boost residents' well-being and property values at minimal economic cost – but the airport has pushed back, saying it could be disastrous for Queensland residents. On this week's Australian Aviation Podcast, Jake and David wade into the continuing stoush around aircraft noise in Brisbane, and discuss how the health and comfort of locals should be balanced with the need for reliable and affordable air transport. Plus, Qantas wins bronze in the on-time Olympics – and could Addis Ababa be the next Dubai?

With Productivity Commission and Senate inquiries set to spin up later this year, it's been a blockbuster week for regional aviation in the news. From support for regional cities left in the lurch by the Rex administration, to calls for a "fairer" system for the regions, to rebrands and axed routes, the headlines have been dominated by turboprops and council-owned airports, shining a much-needed spotlight on the country. On this week's Australian Aviation Podcast, special guest host and former Rex and Virgin Australia pilot, Captain Michelle Huntington, returns to lend Jake her regional aviation expertise as they unpack all the big news from outside the big smoke. Plus, will the government's new consumer protection measures drive up airfares as the airlines claim, and is Qantas trying to destroy the competition on a Pacific island route?

Qantas is officially exiting the low-cost market in Asia, announcing this week that it will sell off its shares in Jetstar Japan, which comprise a third of the airline, and focus on its operations closer to home. The surprise move comes not long after the shuttering last year of Singapore-based Jetstar Asia – and with the Flying Kangaroo out of the picture, what is to become of its now-former Japanese joint venture after 14 years in the skies? On this week's Australian Aviation Podcast, Jake and David look at what's next for Jetstar Japan as it prepares for new ownership – and new branding. Plus, as if normal weather wasn't bad enough, now airlines have to worry about space weather, too – so how can we defend aircraft from software-scrambling cosmic rays?

The verdict is in: after a review by the Department of Finance, government travellers will be allowed to continue to claim airline status credits on flights for official business, though taking advantage of bonus credit offers is definitively out. It's a victory for Qantas, which insists that letting bureaucrats take advantage of perks like lounge access and baggage allowances saves taxpayers money – and a setback for Virgin, which argues that the policy unfairly favours Qantas and incentivises taking more expensive flights on the public purse. On this week's Australian Aviation Podcast, Jake and David dive back into the debate around public servants' airline benefits and ask whether Finance got the balance right. Plus, a new report warns that cyber-criminals could use drones to hack into Australia's critical infrastructure – but how can a pineapple be used maliciously, and what do raspberry pies have to do with it?