Airlines

Qantas Launches $10M Regional Grants Program – Applications Open

Qantas Introduces new Group Boarding Inspired by US Practices

Qantas is inviting regional community groups across Australia to apply for a share of $10 million as part of its grants program, which opened today.

The Qantas Regional Grants program will provide a total of $10 million in grants over five years – $2 million each year – to support Australian-based not-for-profit community groups and projects that benefit regional areas. The grants include a combination of flights, cash and marketing support, and will be determined by a panel made up of Qantas management and community group representatives.

Alaska Airlines donates a plane to Portland Community College(Opens in a new browser tab)

Applications open today and will close on 9 May 2023. Successful recipients will be announced in June 2023.

Qantas Regional Grants program was launched in 2019, with the first year of funding distributed among 20 community groups from every state and territory from more than 1,200 applications. The program was paused when the airline was effectively grounded by the pandemic.

Some of the previous recipients included:

Lifeline Central West (NSW) which supports individuals and communities across the Central West region by providing them with access to online, phone and face-to-face crisis support and suicide prevention services.
Country to Canberra (ACT) which empowers young rural women to reach their leadership potential and provides advocacy and education opportunities.
Fair Game Australia (WA) which collects and distributes pre-loved sports equipment, along with providing health and fitness education to young people in Australia’s most remote communities.
Red Dust Role Models (NT) which works with remote Indigenous communities to create stronger futures for youth and their families.
AgBiz Assist Ltd (VIC) which provides financial counselling to farmers, fishing enterprises, forestry growers and small rural-related businesses experiencing financial hardship.
Outback Watersports Club Inc (Outback Paddle Regatta Festival) (QLD) which partnered with their local community to bring the Outback Paddle Regatta Festival to life again in 2020. The event showcases the outback Queensland and the Thomson River.
Ten Days on the Island Ltd (TAS) which is Tasmania’s biennial international arts festival, presenting new work from Tasmania’s leading artists alongside the work of the world’s most exciting creative practitioners.

Details of all the previous grant recipients can be found here.

Qantas is Australia’s largest regional airline, connecting more than 50 regional communities with capital cities. Since the start of the pandemic, Qantas has launched 38 new regional routes providing even more tourism and economic opportunities for regional Australia.

Airlines

A Costly Mistake: Passenger Pays for Fuel After Disruptive Flight

A Western Australian man has learned a costly lesson after his unruly behavior on a flight resulted in the aircraft having to turn back. The passenger was ordered to pay over $5,000 in fuel costs, along with a significant fine, for causing the plane to divert.

The incident occurred in September 2023 when the man, who was not publicly named, became disruptive on a flight from Perth to Sydney. Due to his behavior, the pilot was forced to turn the plane around and return to Perth, which required dumping fuel to land safely.

The passenger pleaded guilty to charges of disorderly behavior and non-compliance with safety instructions. As a result, he was ordered to pay $8,630 to the airline to cover the cost of the wasted fuel and was also fined $6,055. This combined penalty of over $11,000 is a stark reminder of the severe consequences of disruptive behavior on flights.

While this is not a typical punishment, other cases of in-flight misconduct have resulted in hefty fines. One passenger in the United States was fined over $40,000 for a series of offenses, including bringing their own alcohol on board, being intoxicated, attempting to smoke marijuana, and sexually assaulting a flight attendant.

The Australian Federal Police emphasized that disruptive behavior on flights will not be tolerated. They warned that individuals who cause disturbances can face significant financial penalties and legal consequences. The case of the Western Australian passenger serves as a clear message that obeying airline staff and adhering to safety regulations is essential for a smooth and safe flight.