By aviation writer Scott Mayman

“WE’D still be working for Ansett had it not shut down,” was the common theme for the former staff who welcomed each other with hugs and tears at the Ansett Airlines Canberra reunion on Saturday at the Mercure Hotel.

Reunion organiser Lisa Dube said she was originally expecting only about 35 people for the event that was only supposed to last an hour or two on Saturday afternoon. Instead, the party continued well into the night with more than 70 people attending.

Ansett collapsed 22 years ago.

Many former Ansett staffers are now employed at other aviation outlets within the sector, in Canberra but they still keep in touch with each other.