Air Update
SIA’s New Melbourne Lounge
Singapore Airlines has started work on a new SilverKris Lounge at Melbourne Airport, with completion expected by the end of 2026. The new lounge will be located on level three of the international terminal, above Gate 10, and will include separate spaces for business and first-class passengers. The current SilverKris Lounge will remain open during construction.
Canberra Welcomes Back Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways will return to Canberra in December 2026, fully restoring its Australian network after suspending flights due to Middle East airspace closures and regional conflicts. With war risks now easing, the airline will resume its Doha–Melbourne–Canberra route with four weekly flights, scaling up to a daily service by March 2027.
Airport Update
Brisbane Airport Expansion Advances
Brisbane Airport’s 2026 Master Plan has received Federal Government approval, paving the way for major investment across the precinct. More than $5 billion will be spent over the next five years, including planning for a new Terminal 3. The terminal is expected to open in the early 2030s and will be positioned between the parallel runways to improve aircraft access and reduce taxi times.
Australia to Roll Out Digital Passenger Cards Nationwide
Following successful trials with Qantas, the Federal Government is investing $56.1 million over four years to introduce digital declaration cards at all capital city international airports by the end of the year. Initially available via web forms, the digital cards aim to streamline passenger processing, improve data collection, and boost tourism by making arrivals faster and more efficient.
Route Update
London Named First Destination for Qantas’ Project Sunrise
Qantas Group has officially confirmed that London will be the maiden destination for its highly anticipated Project Sunrise flights. Utilising a bespoke Airbus A350-1000ULR fitted with an additional 20,000-litre fuel tank, the aircraft will be capable of flying non-stop for up to 22 hours over a distance of more than 16,000 kilometres.
The direct Sydney-to-London route is scheduled to take off in October 2027, marking the first time Qantas will link the two cities completely non-stop since it first launched the Kangaroo Route with seven stops back in 1947. Tickets for the historic service will go on sale in February 2027, complementing the airline’s existing transit routes via Perth and Singapore.
In preparation for the aircraft’s arrival next year, Qantas pilots have already commenced extensive training using Australia’s first A350 simulator in Sydney, alongside training programs with British Airways in the UK and Cathay Pacific in Hong Kong. Once delivered, the ultra-long-range aircraft will initially fly shorter routes across the Tasman before debuting on the London route.
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