Australian Aviation Podcast Network

It's been a quarter of a century since the most seismic shock to hit Australia's aviation sector before COVID-19: the dramatic collapse of Ansett Australia, which had been one of the country's two domestic airline giants. With 16,000 people out of work and a sudden vacuum left in the domestic market, Ansett's demise sent shockwaves through both the sector and the nation at large, and its impact is still felt today. On this week's Australian Aviation Podcast, Jake and David look at what Ansett Australia left behind, 25 years after the airline went bust – and ask what might have happened if it hadn't. Plus, it's also been 25 years since 9/11 reshaped the face of global aviation – so how has the industry changed since the towers fell?

It's one of the harshest and most unforgiving environments on Earth – but even in Antarctica, aviation is still a vital connection for those living on research stations across the frozen continent. Skytraders has worked with the Australian Antarctic Division for almost a quarter of a century to provide aviation support and logistics to scientific missions in often challenging conditions, far from the nearest airport. In July, the airline carried out a rare midwinter mission to McMurdo Station, in pitch darkness and temperatures as low as −43°C, to evacuate a medical patient to Christchurch – a mission which succeeded thanks to the skill and experience of the pilots and their supporting teams. On this week's Australian Aviation Podcast, Skytraders pilots Dan Colborne and Louise Robertson share their tales of flying to Antarctica – the highs, the lows, and the challenges of operating in the isolated southernmost reaches of the planet.

It's a sad day for those who love big planes – after 20 years in the sky, Qantas will begin retiring its mighty A380s from 2028, with smaller and more fuel-efficient twinjets like the 787 and A350 set to replace them. Beloved by passengers, but with fuel and maintenance bills to match its massive size, the A380 may no longer make sense for Qantas' business model, but it'll always hold a special place in the hearts and minds of avgeeks – and for bigger hub airlines like Emirates, where it's arguably a better fit. On this week's Australian Aviation Podcast, Jake and David bid a fond early farewell to the Qantas A380 fleet as the superjumbos get ready to fly off into the sunset. Plus, results season is upon us – which airlines came out ahead in the 2026 financial year, and which ones took a beating from the ongoing geopolitical and economic storm?

From the founding of Jetstar to his 15 years at the helm of our largest airline group, Alan Joyce is undoubtedly one of the most consequential figures in the last quarter-century of Australia's aviation history. He became one of Australia's most well-known CEOs, famed for his advocacy on social causes and his work to transform Qantas – but at the same time, attracted plenty of criticism on industrial relations, as well as contentious decisions made during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, three years after handing over the reins to Vanessa Hudson, Joyce has released his memoir, Riding the Jet Stream, where he gives his unvarnished view on what he did right – and wrong – over his long aviation career. On this special episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, Joyce speaks exclusively to Jake Nelson in a no-holds-barred interview on the big decisions, the accomplishments, and the controversies of his time as CEO of Qantas Group, and what he feels his legacy will be.

As the Iran conflict drags on, it's easy to be pessimistic about the effects on aviation, including high fuel prices and geopolitical headaches – but at least in the Asia-Pacific, things may not be as bad as they seem. According to a new report from S&P Global Ratings, Asia-Pacific airlines are expected to stay the fastest-growing airline market in the world, with strong balance sheets, fleet renewals, and solid demand expected to buoy the region despite economic pressures. On this week's Australian Aviation Podcast, Jake and David look at the ups and downs of Asia-Pacific's aviation sector, and where recent route reshuffles might fit into the equation. Plus, despite a habit of flying under the radar, is Airnorth a sleeper success story?