Qantas has announced the first expansion of flights since the pandemic began

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Qantas has announced the first expansion of flights since the pandemic hit, with more staff returning to work. Australia's airlines have been on life-support, relying on taxpayer money to keep planes in the air. Now that the funding is about to end, some routes may cease without it.Sydney Airport's work is continuing, with Airfield Operation Supervisor Nigel Coghlan saying its business as usual for them. The route between Sydney and Melbourne normally has 160 flights a day before the pandemic but that plunged to just 12 flights a day in April. Sydney Airport has gone from nearly 440 flights a day to 50. Qantas is now increasing flights between Sydney and Melbourne by 15% by the end of June. Both Virgin Australia and Qantas are talking to the Government about extending taxpayer funds. Interviewees: Nigel Coghlan, airfield operations supervisor; Prof Greg Bamber, Monash University; Federal Transport Minister Michael McCormack, who says they're reviewing things with the airline sector.