The Sydney Morning Herald logo
Advertisement
Chris Zappone

Chris Zappone

Chris Zappone is a senior reporter covering aviation and business. He is former digital foreign editor.

Qantas is ramping up its schedule to tap into travellers’ scramble for flights to Europe amid the Iran war.

Qantas steps up flights to Europe as travellers scramble for options amid Iran war

The airline taps into strong demand for tickets after the war in the Middle East has led to thousands of flight cancellations by airlines using the Persian Gulf as a transit hub. 

  • Chris Zappone

Latest

A Jetstar flight in February.

Jetstar cuts Australia-New Zealand flights amid oil price shock

The airline said 12 per cent of scheduled services – including Auckland-Sydney and Auckland-Brisbane flights – have been cut, a move described as “temporary”.

  • Chris Zappone
A Delta Air Lines flight.

Sydney-bound Delta flight hit by extreme turbulence, crew members taken to hospital

A number of people have been injured on a Delta flight from Los Angeles to Sydney this morning.

  • Chris Zappone
Qantas business class lounge, Adelaide

Jetstar flyers booted from Qantas lounge in rule change

The change brings an end to the era of easy Qantas lounge access for customers of the low-cost carrier.

  • Chris Zappone
A ground staff member stands beside a fuel attachment to a Qantas plane at Sydney Airport.

Australia’s jet fuel supply is safe for now, but a price crunch is in the pipeline

China, which is the nation’s biggest supplier of jet fuel, has flagged plans to restrict fuel exports amid disruptions as result from the Iran war.

  • Chris Zappone and Lisa Visentin
British Airways.

As Middle East routes melt down, British Airways adds flights to Melbourne

As conflict ties up airports in the Middle East, British Airways has announced a new route to Australia, launching daily flights between London and Melbourne early next year.

  • Chris Zappone
Advertisement
Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson.

Qantas boss says AI can help more planes run on time

Qantas boss Vanessa Hudson says most of the airline’s staff perform roles that can’t be replaced by technology, but it can use AI to become more reliable.

  • Chris Zappone
Emirates flight from Melbourne diverted after attack near Dubai.

Emirates flights from Australia diverted after attack on Dubai

Even as the airline seeks to scale up flights following the start of the war, Canberra is advising travellers to avoid the region, including the airports.

  • Chris Zappone
Virgin Australia.

Vape starts fire on Virgin flight to Melbourne, emergency crews respond

Flight VA328, which departed from Brisbane, issued a PAN call, which triggered a response from emergency services on the ground in Melbourne.

  • Chris Zappone
Qantas.

Qantas to pay $105m after class action over cancelled COVID flights

Hundreds of thousands of customers are expected to receive compensation, stemming from when Qantas gave customers restricted flight credits instead of cash refunds as COVID halted the aviation sector.

  • Chris Zappone