‘Airbus Albo’ REFUSES to take a commercial flight to Queen’s funeral – despite Buck Palace request

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has refused to hitch a commercial flight to London for Queen Elizabeth’s funeral despite being asked to do so by the UK government. 

Heads of states and their partners were asked to travel on commercial flights to England for the funeral at Westminster Abbey on September 19 – but the man who was dubbed ‘Airbus Albo’ for his repeated overseas trips at the start of his term, is not falling into line. 

Instead, Mr Albanese intends to take the Royal Australian Air Force’s VIP jet for the flight to the UK, though he will be transported by bus once he gets there.

‘They’re longstanding plans for myself and the Governor-General (David Hurley) to travel to London and we’ll be doing so on Thursday night,’ Mr Albanese told the ABC. 

His deputy Richard Marles said Australian prime ministers did not commercial flights because of security concerns.

‘That has to be the paramount consideration here. And I might add that that’s not just a consideration from the point of view of the security of the prime minister, it’s also about the security of the public,’ Mr Marles told ABC’s Radio National.

Earlier this year, New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern travelled to Australia on a commercial flight. 

She also plans to travel to the UN General Assembly later this month by the national carrier, Air New Zealand.  

Documents obtained by Politico revealed foreign heads of states and their spouses were asked to travel on commercial flights and that the use of helicopters to get around had been banned. 

The world leaders attending will be bussed around London to the funeral, according to plans. 

This has not gone down well with world leaders, with one foreign ambassador based in London saying: ‘Can you imagine Joe Biden on the bus?’

Westminster Abbey will be so packed for the funeral that only a single, senior representative per country and their partner will be allowed to attend, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said in the official protocol message. 

The department said it ‘regrets that, because of limited space at the state funeral service and associated events, no other members of the principal guest’s family, staff or entourage may be admitted’. 

Mr Albanese said ‘there will be events right around’ Australia to honour the Queen.

Anthony Albanese will not be getting a commercial flight to London for the Queen’s funeral, despite being asked to do so by the UK government. Pictured are Qantas planes

‘This is why we’ve declared it a National Day of Mourning. I’m sure that Australians will want to show their respect in their own way,’ he said on Monday.

‘But what is clear about Queen Elizabeth is she was much loved by people across the political spectrum, across our vast island continent, she touched people. 

‘She visited on her first visit in 1954 almost 60 towns. She visited the big cities but she went to the smallest of towns and remote communities.’

The Prime Minister said Queen Elizabeth ‘visited Australia 16 times’ and there were 16 Australian Prime Ministers and 16 Governors-General during her reign. 

‘It’s a remarkable life of service we commemorate and we give gratitude for,’ he said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (right) and his partner Jodie Haydon are seen boarding a Royal Australian Air Force flight

Mr Albanese said he wrote to King Charles on Friday to express his condolence at the loss of Queen Elizabeth, ‘not just as the sovereign, but as King Charles’ beloved mother’. 

The Prime Minister refused to be drawn on Labor’s plans to hold a referendum to become a republic. 

‘King Charles, like other members of the Royal Family, have always been welcomed here in Australia in the past. And they’ll be welcomed here in the future as well,’ said.

Last year, the Australian government had to make a $20,000 carbon offset purchase after the UK government requested Scott Morrison do so to offset his travel to the G7 meeting in Cornwall. 

It is not yet known if Mr Albanese will follow suit and get carbon credits to offset his travel to England.