Aviation and Airlines

Qantas will launch 18-hour direct flights from Sydney to New York in mid-2028, cutting at least three hours off the current journey and becoming the first commercial direct service between Kingsford-Smith and JFK airports. Tickets go on sale in August 2027, with the route forming the second part of the airline's Project Sunrise expansion after Sydney-London flights begin in October 2027. The flights will be operated by 12 Airbus A350-1000ULRs, the first of which is due in Australia in April 2027.

Iran cancelled flights to Baghdad and Muscat as US aviation sanctions targeting Iranian carriers loomed, with Iranian aviation officials negotiating with Oman and Iraq over the measures announced by Treasury Secretary Bessent.

Germany has received its first F-35A fighter jet from Lockheed Martin as part of a 35-aircraft order placed in 2022, aimed at replacing its ageing Tornado fleet and fulfilling NATO nuclear-sharing duties. The delivery comes amid a broader European military buildup, with NATO members agreeing to devote five percent of GDP to security-related spending by 2035.

Qatar Airways has been named the world's best airline for 2026 in the Skytrax World Airline Awards.