News & Insights
The latest in aviation industry news, tourism & luxury private charter jet travel insights.
New Iron Ore Project, 800 FIFO Jobs, and the Aviation Demand Behind Them
Every major new resources project comes with a logistics problem that rarely makes the headlines: how do you get hundreds of workers in and out of a remote site, reliably, week after week? A new iron ore development near Port Hedland is set to create more than 800...
WA’s Tourism Boom and the Private Jet Itinerary
Western Australia is having a moment most states would envy. In the 12 months to October 2025, WA welcomed a record 1.024 million overseas visitors, beating its pre-COVID benchmark of 996,000 arrivals and marking a full tourism recovery, the strongest of any...
Transformational Travel and the Case for Charter
Luxury travellers are chasing something different lately. The fastest-growing slice of the market isn't about ticking off five-star hotels; it's "transformational travel," trips built around personal growth, wellness and genuine cultural depth. The shift shows up...
Hilton Palm Cove Cairns Resort & Spa: Luxury Comes to an Underrated Gateway
Palm Cove has long been the quietly sophisticated alternative to Port Douglas, and now it's getting a serious luxury anchor. Hilton's debut in the beachside village opens in August 2026, and its position between Cairns and Port Douglas makes a planned charter flight...
Project Sunrise: Non-Stop to London, and the Rest of Your Journey
The headline question everyone's asking about Qantas Project Sunrise is "would you really sit on a plane for 22 hours?" It's the wrong question for most Australians. The hard part of these ultra-long-haul flights usually isn't the marathon middle leg, it's the first...
UPDATE: Southern Ocean Lodge Earns Two Michelin Keys, and It’s Still Australia’s #1 Bucket-List Lodge
Southern Ocean Lodge was already Australia's most celebrated luxury lodge, and it just added a new layer of global credibility. The Kangaroo Island clifftop icon has earned Two Michelin Keys, and since the only way to reach it is by charter flight into Kingscote, the...
The Bonobo by Raes, Byron Bay: The Most Talked-About New Hotel in NSW
The team behind Raes on Wategos spent three decades making it Byron Bay's most celebrated address, so a second property was always going to draw attention. The Bonobo has now opened in the heart of town, and for anyone planning a luxury charter escape to the northern...
The Ritz-Carlton Gold Coast Is Opening This Year: Here’s How to Arrive
Some hotels are built for the dramatic entrance, and the new Ritz-Carlton Gold Coast is one of them. Sitting at a brand-new superyacht marina on Main Beach, it's the kind of address where arriving by private jet hire and stepping straight into the precinct feels less...
Winter Sun to Wine Country: A Multi-Stop Charter Flight Journey You Can’t Book on Any Airline
Picture a single winter week that opens on a misty morning in the Adelaide Hills, runs through red-dirt outback under clear desert skies, and closes beside a vineyard fireplace with a glass of cool-climate shiraz. The catch is that you cannot string those places...
Lessons from More Than 30 Years of Disrupted Flights: How Contingency Planning Works in Private Charter
It's 05:30, a storm front has just closed your destination airport, and your chief executive is due to chair a board meeting on site at 11:00. On a scheduled airline, this is the moment you join a queue of thousands and take whatever rebooking you're handed. On a...
Airlines Are Cutting Routes: Who Keeps You Moving?
When fuel prices spike, the first thing airlines do is sharpen the pencil on their network, and the routes that lose out are rarely the busy ones between capital cities. They're the thin regional and long domestic services that keep remote communities and resources...
Inside Australia’s New Wave of Design-Driven City Hotels
Australia's best new city hotels are no longer competing on thread counts and concierge ratios. The standout openings of 2025-26 are competing on architecture, art and cultural identity - and the results are reshaping how design-conscious travellers experience Sydney,...
Australia’s Luxury Hotel Boom: Why 2026 Is Different
Australia is having a luxury hotel moment. Not the slow-burn kind - the kind where global brands are opening flagship properties, regional operators are dramatically raising their product, and luxury travel lists now feature Australian addresses alongside established...
South America: The Luxury Trip That Just Leapfrogged Europe
While a generation of Australian luxury travellers is spending 2026 working out how to detour around a conflict zone, a quieter group has already bought tickets south. A charter flight to Santiago routes through none of it - no Middle Eastern airspace, no Gulf hubs,...
How Savvy Luxury Travellers Are Building Disruption-Proof Itineraries in 2026
The desire to travel hasn't faded. If anything, the events of 2026 have made people want it more - that sense of arrival at somewhere extraordinary, the resort, the private island, the remote lodge that took months to plan. Australians are still travelling. Japan,...
How Smart Australian Executives Are Still Getting Around – Without the Drama
There are two types of business travellers in 2026. One is perpetually frustrated - rerouted through alternate hubs, refreshing booking apps at midnight, arriving a day late to meetings that couldn't move. The other always seems to land on time, get the deal done, and...
East, North and Home: Where Australia’s Luxury Travellers Are Heading in 2026
Australia's most well-travelled people made a quiet decision early in 2026: stop fighting the chaos of routes through a conflict zone and start designing around it. Not a retreat from travel - a reorientation. Some travellers gave up on Middle East-transiting flights...
Electric Air Taxis in Australia: What CASA’s Approval Process Means for Travellers
Electric air taxis have been "five years away" for most of the past decade. In Australia, that gap is closing - not through hype, but through the slow, unglamorous work of regulatory preparation. CASA's RPAS and AAM Strategic Regulatory Roadmap sets a formal 10-15...
The Travel Advisor’s Edge: Turning 2026’s Aviation Disruption Into Client Loyalty
Picture the scenario: a client, a $40,000 itinerary, a charter flight booked for the critical leg - and the commercial connection feeding into it has just changed. They're calling you. What happens in the next ten minutes either cements the relationship or quietly...
From Miami to Sydney: The Luxury Travel Trade Events That Matter for the Rest of 2026
Luxury travel advisors who want to win business in 2027 are making decisions right now - choosing which rooms to be in, which relationships to invest in and which trends to get ahead of before they hit the mainstream client conversation. The second half of 2026 is...
Where Australia’s Wealthiest Travellers Are Heading in 2026
Japan has overtaken Italy as the top international destination for high-net-worth Australian and New Zealand travellers, according to the Virtuoso 2026 Luxe Report for the region. Tokyo has claimed the number-one city ranking, edging out the European favourites that...
W Brisbane: Bold Design and River Views in the Heart of Queensland’s Capital
Brisbane's luxury hotel offering has found a sharper edge with W Brisbane, a design-forward tower on North Quay that has become one of the city's most talked-about addresses for affluent leisure and executive travellers alike. With 312 rooms, 32 suites and interiors...
Joby Aviation Reaches Final FAA Certification Stage with Conforming eVTOL Aircraft
Joby Aviation has completed initial flight tests of its first FAA-conforming eVTOL aircraft, formally entering Stage 5 - the final phase of FAA type certification. The aircraft, registered N547JX, completed its maiden conforming flights at Marina, California, marking...
Electric Air Taxi Network Takes Shape Across NSW and Queensland
A strategic collaboration between Eve Air Mobility, Sydney-based Alt Air and vertiport specialist Skyports Infrastructure is laying the groundwork for an electric air taxi ecosystem spanning New South Wales and Queensland. The partnership brings together aircraft...
RFDS Takes Delivery of World’s First Aeromedical PC-12 PRO
The Royal Flying Doctor Service has taken a significant step forward in aeromedical capability, with RFDS Central Operations accepting delivery of the world's first aeromedical-configured Pilatus PC-12 PRO. It is the first of five new aircraft arriving from...
Australia’s Most Anticipated Luxury Hotel Openings: Where to Stay in 2026
Australia's luxury accommodation landscape is undergoing a remarkable transformation. A wave of new and forthcoming five-star properties is reshaping the country's most desirable destinations, from Sydney's heritage CBD to the glittering coastlines of the Gold Coast....
3 Aviation-Gated Australian Escapes You Can Only Truly Unlock From the Air
Australia has no shortage of remote, extraordinary places. What it does have - and what most itineraries fail to account for - is a class of destination that exists on a map but requires private aircraft to reach with any elegance. These aren't places that are simply...
The Executive Assistant’s Playbook for Complex Multi-City Charters
Managing aircraft charter for a senior executive is one of the more demanding tasks in an EA's brief, and multi-city itineraries are where the margin for error is smallest. A missed detail in a poorly structured route or an aircraft that doesn't fit the actual...
The Second-City Luxe Revolution: Private Jet Escapes to Newcastle, Townsville and Launceston
Some of Australia's most discerning travellers have quietly moved on from the obvious. Sydney Harbour at sunrise, the Great Ocean Road at dusk, Uluru glowing gold at the end of a luxury charter flight - these remain extraordinary. But for those who have done them all,...
The Direct Route to ROI for FIFO Mining Flights
Every hour your crew spends in a transit lounge is an hour you're paying for nothing. Delayed connections, road coaches from regional airports, last-minute rebooking fees - commercial aviation was built for tourists, not mining rosters. Charter-exclusive FIFO fixes...
Australia to Unveil World’s First Ritz-Carlton Luxury Lodges
Wolgan Valley is set for a high-profile return in mid-2026, reopening under a landmark partnership between Emirates and Marriott International as the world’s first Ritz-Carlton Lodge. The 40-suite, all-inclusive retreat in the Greater Blue Mountains has been closed...
Marriott Reports Major Asia-Pacific Luxury Portfolio Growth in 2025
Marriott International has unveiled an ambitious expansion drive across Asia-Pacific (excluding China), accelerating growth in its premium and luxury hotel portfolio throughout 2025. The hospitality giant signed 187 new property agreements during the year,...
Female-Focused Private Travel Club Expands to Australian Market
A London-based luxury travel membership service targeting independent female travellers has commenced Australian operations, four months after its UK establishment. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Club Avandra (@clubavandra) Club Avandra...
Ardour Milton Park Bowral Relaunches After $10 Million Transformation
Historic Southern Highlands estate Milton Park has reopened as Ardour Milton Park Bowral, marking the flagship launch of Ardour Hotels & Estates - a new luxury brand from Salter Brothers Hospitality. View this post on Instagram A post shared by...
Embraer Achieves Record Executive Aviation Deliveries in 2025
Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer has reported record-breaking results for its executive aviation division, delivering 155 business jets in 2025 - the highest figure in the company's history. The milestone represents a 19% increase year-on-year and meets the top...
Private Jet Manufacturers Eye Asia-Pacific for Major Growth
The Asia-Pacific region is emerging as a critical growth market for private jet manufacturers, with industry leaders reporting significant expansion across Southeast Asia and beyond. At the recent Singapore Airshow, Gulfstream's head of worldwide sales Scott Neal...
Australia’s Luxury Travel Outlook for Early 2026
Australia’s luxury travel landscape is entering a new era in early 2026, defined by reimagined icons, ultra-luxurious small ships, and a powerful shift towards slower, deeper, and more experiential journeys. Affluent travellers are prioritising privacy, wellness,...
Discover the Australian Hotels Ranked Among the World’s Best in 2026
Twenty Australian luxury hotels have secured prestigious positions in the Forbes Travel Guide 2026 Star Awards. Seven first-time entrants join established favourites across Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and spectacular island destinations. Australia's luxury accommodation...
ATR 72-500
The ATR 72-500 represents one of the most capable regional turboprop airliners available.
Seats 68
Range 2,500km
Best New Australian Restaurants You Need To Visit In 2026
Australia's dining scene has never been more exciting. From intimate Turkish supper clubs to sprawling heritage conversions, the past year delivered a wave of openings that redefined what it means to eat out in this country. Whether you're chasing theatrical fine...
Top Destinations Australian Luxury Travellers Are Headed in 2026
The 2026 Virtuoso Luxe Report has arrived, giving eager jet-setters a peek at where the world’s savviest travellers are dreaming of next. Drawing on insights from over 2,400 travel advisors across 50 countries, it shows luxury travel is still on the up — with nearly...
The Results Are In: Luxury Travellers’ Top Cities for 2026
The 2026 Virtuoso Luxe Report has revealed the top 10 cities capturing the attention of luxury travellers worldwide, with European destinations claiming eight of the coveted spots. Paris takes the crown as the most popular city for 2026, followed by Tokyo in second...
Northrop Grumman Delivers 1,500th F-35 Fuselage
Northrop Grumman has reached a major production milestone, delivering its 1,500th centre fuselage for the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter. The fuselages are assembled at the company's Integrated Assembly Line (IAL) in California, which has been operational since...
Bootiquing: Hike by Day, Luxury Stay by Night
Australian travellers are embracing a new approach to walking holidays, swapping basic lodges for boutique accommodation without sacrificing the adventure. The trend, dubbed 'bootiquing', pairs scenic hikes with luxury stays, fine dining and premium service....
InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach Opens | Adagold Aviation
InterContinental has unveiled its first beachfront property in Sydney, with the opening of InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach bringing 198 rooms and suites to one of the city's most beloved coastal suburbs. View this post on Instagram A post shared by...
Hannah St Hotel Opens in Southbank Melbourne
A shiny new luxury hotel has just landed in Melbourne’s Southbank, right in the middle of the city’s arts-and-culture action. Think local design, great art, and seriously good dining, all wrapped up in one very stylish stay. View this post on Instagram A...
Lockheed Martin Names New Australia and New Zealand Chief Executive
Lockheed Martin has appointed Major-General (retired) Jeremy King as its new Chief Executive for Australia and New Zealand, effective February 2026. King takes over from outgoing CEO Warren McDonald following a formal transition period. He brings extensive defence...
3.9 Million Flights: Private Aviation’s Biggest Year Yet
Global private jet flying is on a serious run right now. In 2025, private aviation clocked almost 3.9 million flights worldwide — up 4.6% on the year before — and it’s officially the biggest year on record. And here’s the thing: it’s not really about the...
Gulfstream G800 Sets New Benchmarks in Global Business Aviation
Gulfstream’s newest flagship, the G800, continues to underscore its long-range capability with a growing list of speed achievements. Most recently, the aircraft completed a Phuket–Dubai sector in 5 hours and 38 minutes, marking its eighth city-pair record since...
Otto Aerospace Phantom 3500: Next-Generation Efficiency Meets Windowless Design
Otto Aerospace is developing the Phantom 3500, a business jet that could reshape expectations around fuel efficiency and aerodynamic performance. Expected to enter service in 2030, this aircraft represents a bold departure from conventional business jet design. The...
Cirrus Safe Return Emergency Autoland Now Available on Single-Engine Aircraft
Cirrus Aircraft has made aviation history by introducing the SR Series G7+, the first piston-powered aircraft to feature Garmin’s Safe Return™ Emergency Autoland as standard equipment. This groundbreaking technology, previously seen on higher-performance aircraft such...
Europe’s New Entry/Exit System: What Travellers Need to Know
Since October 2025, the European Union has begun rolling out its long-planned Entry/Exit System (EES) - a major update to border processing across the Schengen area. The system replaces manual passport stamping with a fully digital model designed to improve security,...
The 6 Best Private Jet Terminals in the World
Flying by private aircraft opens your world far beyond the limits of commercial travel. Suddenly, you're touching down on remote runways that put you right at the heart of the action, gliding into discreet terminals shielded from the crowds, or stepping into luxurious...
The Playford Adelaide Crowned Australia’s Best Boutique Hotel
Adelaide's The Playford has claimed national glory at the 2025 HM Awards, taking out the title of Australia's Best Boutique Hotel. For those familiar with this Art Nouveau masterpiece on North Terrace, the recognition feels both fitting and long overdue. Art Nouveau...
InterContinental Halong Bay Resort: Vietnam’s Newest Luxury Escape
Vietnam's UNESCO World Heritage-listed Hạ Long Bay has welcomed a game-changing addition to its luxury hospitality scene. The InterContinental Halong Bay Resort opened in summer 2025, reimagining what five-star accommodation can be in one of Southeast Asia's most...
New Zealand Scores Michelin Guide While Australia Sits This One Out
New Zealand is set to become Oceania's first destination to receive the coveted Michelin Guide, whilst Australia has politely declined the opportunity, at least for now. View this post on Instagram A post shared by New Zealand (@purenewzealand) Tourism...
Australia Shines at World’s 50 Best Vineyards 2025
The World's 50 Best Vineyards of 2025 have been unveiled, with this year's rankings revealed here on Australian soil. The live awards ceremony took place in Margaret River, Western Australia- a fitting location for a nation that knows a thing or two about crafting...
Bombardier Takes Fashion to Mach 0.95 with ELIE SAAB
Bombardier is bringing a new meaning to ‘fast-fashion’ with an exclusive collaboration that pairs haute couture elegance with a record-breaking Mach 0.95 speed. This feat sets it as the fastest business jet in the world. The business jet manufacturer has joined forces...
Adaptive Cycle Engines: Next-Generation Propulsion Technology for Superior Performance
Modern aircraft engines are designed for specific mission profiles, but adaptive cycle engines (ACEs) are revolutionising aerospace propulsion by dynamically adjusting performance across both subsonic and supersonic flight regimes. Bridging the Performance Gap...
Japan Introduces New Travel Rules: What Private Jet Travellers Need to Know
Japan will introduce a digital travel authorisation system for foreign visitors from over 70 countries, including Australia, affecting all travellers—whether arriving on commercial flights or via private charter. Understanding JESTA Named JESTA (Japan Electronic...
Researchers Developing Self-Healing Aircraft Materials Which Could Revolutionise The Future of Aviation Safety and Maintenance
Imagine a jet cruising from Sydney to Singapore that detects a microscopic fracture in its wing and automatically seals it before landing. Thanks to breakthroughs from aerospace engineers, this kind of self-repairing technology is moving from prototype to runway...
New COMO Hotel Set to Enhance Melbourne’s Luxury Landscape
Singapore's prestigious COMO Hotels & Resorts is bringing its signature wellness-led luxury to Melbourne's St Kilda Road, with a striking new property scheduled to open in early 2028. The development marks COMO's first east coast Australian location and follows...
How to Elevate Multi-Destination Itineraries with Private Jet Charters
Private jet charter transforms multi-destination itineraries from logistical challenges into effortlessly connected journeys. For luxury travel agents crafting bespoke experiences, understanding how to leverage charter flight services unlocks entirely new...
6 Luxury Holiday Experiences in Australia Best Reached by Private Plane Charter
What are your getaway plans this Christmas? While the festive season brings crowds to commercial terminals, discerning travellers are discovering how private plane charter transforms the journey into part of the luxury experience itself. From tropical island paradises...
IATA Chief Calls Out SAF ‘Price Gouging’ as Airlines Face Mounting Costs
IATA Director General Willie Walsh has publicly criticised fuel suppliers for exploiting Sustainable Aviation Fuel mandates to inflate prices beyond actual production costs, calling the practice 'completely unacceptable price gouging'. Walsh argues that whilst the...
Luxury Private Jet Travel: The Shift from Bling to Meaning
The luxury travel landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, and private aviation is at the forefront of this change. Recent insights from industry leaders reveal that today's high-net-worth travellers are no longer seeking ostentatious displays of wealth –...
MGallery Collection Debuts in Sydney’s South with Beachfront Brighton Hotel
Accor's boutique luxury MGallery Collection has expanded its Australian presence with the opening of The Brighton Hotel Sydney, a 307-room property set along the shores of Botany Bay in Brighton-Le-Sands. Described as 'a retreat by the sea, shaped by story and light',...
Private Plane Hire Picks: The Aircraft That Rule Australia’s Skies
Private jet travel in Australia has become an essential asset for high nett worth individuals, executives and discerning travellers who value time, privacy and convenience. With over 7.7 million square kilometres to cover and many destinations beyond the reach of...
Trump Announces Major B-21 Raider Bomber Order: What It Means for Strategic Aviation
US President Donald Trump has confirmed orders for up to 28 next-generation stealth bombers, marking a major expansion of America's strategic air capabilities. Clarifying the B-2 vs B-21 Confusion Speaking to reporters following the Alaska summit, Trump initially...
Beyond Luxury: Global Shifts Driving Private Jet Demand
New analysis suggests that private jet charter demand is increasingly shaped by global wealth creation and geopolitical instability, pushing usage beyond luxury tourism into business resilience and mobility needs. Private jets are no longer just symbols of luxury. A...
Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection Expands in Australia Amid Rising Demand
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is establishing an APAC headquarters in Australia, signalling long-term commitment to the market as Australian travellers increasingly embrace the hotel-at-sea luxury concept. The luxury hospitality giant has opened its Asia Pacific...
Six Senses Burnham Beeches: Historic Art Deco Mansion Set for $120M Transformation
After sitting vacant for nearly four decades, the iconic Burnham Beeches mansion in Victoria's Dandenong Ranges is set for a remarkable $120 million transformation into Australia's first Six Senses resort. Art Deco Icon Returns to Life Located just 40 kilometres from...
Tasmania Named Only Australian Destination on Signature Travel Network’s 2026 Luxury List
Tasmania has achieved remarkable international recognition, being named the only Australian destination on Signature Travel Network's prestigious 'Where to Go in 2026' list. This significant honour places the island state at the forefront of global luxury travel...
Australia’s Most Anticipated Luxury Hotel Openings of 2025
Australia's luxury accommodation landscape is experiencing a remarkable transformation in 2025, with an impressive array of new hotel openings spanning from vibrant city centres to pristine coastal locations. These developments represent significant investments in...
Museum of Underwater Art: Townsville’s Great Barrier Reef Innovation
Townsville's Great Barrier Reef hosts Australia's most innovative marine attraction: the Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA). As the Southern Hemisphere's only underwater art museum, MOUA combines world-class sculpture with reef conservation, creating unique experiences...
Journey Beyond’s Uluru Resort Acquisition: What It Means for Luxury Travellers
Journey Beyond, the operator behind Australia's legendary rail experiences The Ghan and Indian Pacific, is in exclusive negotiations to acquire Ayers Rock Resort for approximately $300 million. This significant development marks the first major ownership change at...
Australia’s Best Beach & Island Hotels for 2025: Gold Coast Resort Claims Top Spot
Australia's spectacular coastline and pristine island destinations continue to captivate luxury travellers planning their next coastal escape. As summer bookings surge across the continent, Time Out has released its highly anticipated list of Australia's best beach...
The Real Cost of Owning a Private Jet in Australia
The allure of private jet ownership is undeniable. Imagine bypassing crowded terminals, setting your own schedule, and travelling in complete privacy and comfort. For many wealthy Australians, owning a private aircraft represents the ultimate in luxury and...
Australia Emerges as Asia-Pacific Luxury Powerhouse
Australia has strengthened its position as the Asia-Pacific region's premier luxury travel destination, leading a record-breaking delegation to ILTM Asia Pacific 2025 in Singapore. The 13-exhibitor pavilion represents the country's largest-ever luxury travel showcase,...
Advanced Air Mobility Progress: Australia Joins International Certification Efforts for Urban Aviation
Australia has taken significant steps forward in preparing for the future of urban aviation by joining international efforts to establish advanced air mobility (AAM) certification frameworks and opening consultation on vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) facilities at...
Transformational Travel Trend Hits Australia
Australia's luxury travel sector is experiencing a significant shift towards "transformational travel," with affluent visitors increasingly seeking meaningful, wellness-focused experiences that promote personal growth and cultural connection. This trend aligns with...
Boeing X-37B Space Mission: Eighth Flight Prepares for Advanced Technology Demonstrations
Boeing's secretive X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle is preparing for its eighth mission, scheduled to launch no earlier than August 21, 2025, from Kennedy Space Center, Florida. This milestone represents the latest chapter in one of the most enigmatic space programs in...

















































































