With Western Sydney International Airport still a year and a half from opening, an unexpected alternative might be about to hit the congested NSW market: Newcastle Airport, a couple of hours north of Sydney, will soon have flights to Perth and Bali with more routes potentially on the way.

The news will not only allow Hunter Region residents to travel further afield without having to make the trek down to Sydney, it could also give Sydneysiders an alternative to the city’s own crowded airport while WSI finishes construction, providing to Sydney what Gold Coast Airport does to Brisbane.

As Newcastle Airport nears completion on its ambitious international terminal redevelopment, Adam and Jake look at what it might do for commercial aviation on the east coast.

Plus, after the tumult of the last few years, is Qantas finally climbing its way out of a massive public trust deficit?

On 2 July, associate professor Andrew Kornberg, senior neurologist at The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, will set off from Moorabbin Airport on a journey around Australia in his own single-engine plane to raise $4.5 million for children with rare and complex neurological conditions.

The “Fly for the Kids” campaign – similar to Andrew’s previous flight in 2017 – will see him cover 27,000 kilometres over more than 50 hours in the air, in the hopes of establishing dedicated facilities and staff at the RCH for advanced therapies.

Along the way, Andrew will visit patients who have been given these new treatments in an effort to raise awareness of how kids with rare conditions can be given longer and happier lives.

Andrew spoke to the Australian Aviation Podcast ahead of his journey.

After five tumultuous years as head of Air New Zealand, CEO Greg Foran is preparing to hang up his wings this October.

Between COVID-19 border closures, fleet delays, maintenance issues and other problems, it’s fair to say the Kiwi flag carrier has had a rough half-decade – but how well has it weathered the storm?

On location in Auckland, Australian Aviation’s Jake Nelson talks to Foran about his tenure, what he might have done differently, and what might be next for the airline.

Plus, Adam and Jake discuss the rest of the week’s news, including Qantas’ ongoing attempts to draw a line under the Joyce era.

Jake Nelson travelled as a guest of Air New Zealand.