Since the departure of Alan Joyce in late 2023, new Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson has largely eschewed her predecessor’s bombastic camera-friendly style, instead keeping her head down and focused on rebuilding Australia’s trust in the Flying Kangaroo.

Passenger experience has become the watchword, with the recent announcement of another solid half-yearly profit being accompanied by the promise of a cabin refit for 42 aging 737-800s as the airline awaits more of its new-generation Airbus fleet – but is Hudson’s approach bearing fruit?

Adam and Jake discuss the delicate balancing act and whether Qantas is beginning to climb out of the trust deficit the old management left behind.

Plus, Qatar Airways’ bid for a stake in Virgin gets the all-important green light from the government, and how can the aviation sector address the lingering gender pay gap?

More than 10 years after the mysterious disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight 370 in the Indian Ocean, the plane has yet to be found despite two search efforts – and the families of those who lost their lives still have no answers.

But a new search effort, led by Ocean Infinity, has once again raised hopes that the wreckage may yet be uncovered – this time, by examining four potential “hotspots” west of Perth that were missed on previous expeditions. The question is, are these hopes just an illusion?

Adam and Jake are joined by special guest Hannah Dowling to discuss the search and whether or not there is any chance for a breakthrough.

Plus, Chinese naval exercises in the Tasman Sea spark concerns about air safety – why did pilots only find out after they had already started?

In this special episode of the Australian Aviation Podcast, host Adam Thorn speaks with Jeff Shaknaitis, the customer sustainability leader at GE Aerospace, about the industry's push toward net-zero emissions by 2050.

Jeff shares his career journey and how his passion for sustainability led him to play a key role in GE’s efforts to help airlines decarbonise, including its groundbreaking 100 per cent sustainable aviation fuel test flight.

They explore innovations like the Open Fan engine, hybrid-electric propulsion, and the challenges of scaling SAFs in future.