Tim Johnson

2 November Australian Aviation photographer Lenn Bayliss may have captured the moment a former Virgin 737 was being readied for delivery to new rival Rex as staff paint over its iconic tail branding. Rex previously announced it was close to a deal to lease six 737-800 NG aircraft to fly its new network between Sydney,

1 October Prime Minister Scott Morrison reveals he will likely not allow Queensland to receive flights from New Zealand because of the state’s insistence on hotel quarantine for domestic travel. The PM argues he can’t justify allowing trans-Tasman flights into Brisbane if it would mean precious hotel quarantine rooms were taken up by Kiwi arrivals.

1 September Rex reveals a full-year underlying profit before tax of $250,000 and an increase in revenue. Executive chairman Lim Kim Hai says, “On behalf of all regional aviation, I would like to place on record our gratitude to the Morrison government and to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional

4 August New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirms plans for a trans-Tasman bubble have now been “put on the backburner” due to Victoria’s COVID-19 resurgence. She also indicates that Australia will need to be free of unknown locally acquired cases – so-called community transmission – for at least 28 days before travel could begin.

3 July The TWU turns on winning Virgin bidder Bain Capital after a photo emerges showing the private investment firm’s team celebrating the deal at a Sydney restaurant. In an interview with The Australian, TWU national secretary Michael Kaine says, “The private equity world may involve a culture of winners and losers, but when thousands

2 June Virgin Australia’s administrator announces he’s whittled down the four prospective bidders to two: Bain Capital and Cyrus Capital Partners. Deloitte’s Vaughan Strawbridge says both parties “are well-funded, have deep aviation experience, and see real value in the business and its future”. The decision means that private equity firm BGH Capital and US aviation