Aussie airports are still struggling to rebound after COVID, with Perth being the only big gateway with more travellers than pre-2020. In the year to 30 June, 16 million passengers passed through Perth Airport, overtaking the previous record of 14.9 million set in 2014, according to a new report (paywall). While Sydney Airport was the nation’s busiest with more than 40 million flyers in the last financial year, that’s still down from 44 million 5 years ago. Melbourne and Brisbane are also hovering at around 95% of pre-pandemic levels. Sydney Airport CEO Scott Charlton says that’s down to “higher airfares, a lack of capacity and a downturn in discretionary business travel”. Cue Virgin’s announcement that it’s cutting the daily Tokyo-Cairns flight. A not-so-fun fact for our tourism operators: Japanese visitors to Australia are down 35% on pre-COVID levels.