Kangaroo Island experiences 12.6 per cent growth in air travel as flyers snap up cheap Mt Gambier fares

Kangaroo Island is attracting more tourists by air following a $21.3m redevelopment of its airport while more competitive services are also proving a win for Mt Gambier.

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Improving air transport facilities and flight regularity are crucial to boosting the economic success of regional South Australia, tourist operators and civic leaders say.

A $21.3 million airport redevelopment on Kangaroo Island and extra flights have led to growth in air passengers of more than 12 per cent in the past 18 months.

Mt Gambier Airport is in the midst of a $9.2 million upgrade, while Port Lincoln’s $13.2 million airport and terminal upgrade was completed in 2013 to cater for growing tourist numbers.

The Port Lincoln Airport was recently named the best in the state for passenger numbers, with 169,400 people passing through the doors last year, followed by Mt Gambier, with 80,600 passengers.

The state’s representative tourist body urged government and private operators to take note of such examples and invest in air transport.

SA Tourism Industry Council chief Shaun de Bruyn highlighted the Flinders Ranges and Outback as the next regions that would benefit from improved air access.

“Visitors are often time-poor, so growing affordable regional air travel options are very important,” Mr de Bruyn said.

“This allows regional communities to benefit from visitors who wouldn’t otherwise visit them. Tangibly, this means money being spent in regional towns that ultimately create jobs and prosperity.

“Taking a regional flight to visit our further-away visitor destinations should be on the to-do list of every South Aussie. The landscapes, wildlife, food and wine are some of the best in the world and we should all take the time to experience these great places.

“The tourism industry in South Australia sees air travel both into our state and around our state as fundamental to our future success.”

The first QantasLink airplane from Adelaide arrives at Kingscote Airport on Kangaroo Island on Monday, December 4, 2017. Picture: Matt Loxton

Outback Communities Authorities director Mark Sutton said the region’s aerodromedrome network was well maintained and ready for more use. Qantas joined Rex Airlines in offering flights to Kangaroo Island from December 2017, with five weekly flights from Adelaide, followed by a trial of three weekly flights from Melbourne.

Kangaroo Island Council figures showed total air passenger volume had grown by 12.8 per cent in 2017-18, generating a total of 42,789 visitors to the Island.

In the first four months of 2018-19, the total passenger figure was up 13.85 per cent.

Council chief executive Andrew Boardman said Qantas had confirmed it would continue the Adelaide service through winter with three services a week, including Friday.

“The Friday service is new and is pitched to allow optimum access to the lucrative east coast capital city domestic market for Friday to Sunday long weekend travel breaks,” Mr Boardman said.

“The provision of additional services to the island has grown associated business activities at the airport, with tourism and service operators in our community generating both direct and indirect employment and economic development opportunities.”

Mr Boardman said Qantas’s position in the global system had put the island on the map, with potential visitors able to see flights anywhere in the world and through any booking engine.

The council-owned airport underwent a major redevelopment – funded by state and federal governments – to lengthen its runway to allow non-stop flights by larger planes and to build a new terminal.

Mr Boardman said the government investment in the project had encouraged private sector investors to the island.

“They’ve invested in significant tourism projects, such as the $20 million golf course and $35 million American River resort, which will commence development later this year,” he said.

The airport design won two awards from the Australian Airports Association and one from the Australian Civic Trust.

First officer Danita Henderson with cabin crew, Brianna Watkins, Rebecca Holroyd and QantasLink CEO John Gissing, Kim Elvidge and Captain Matthew Hooper at Kingscote Airport on Kangaroo Island. Picture: Matt Loxton

New air link has KI soaring

Kangaroo Island’s $21.3 million airport redevelopment has generated QantasLink services and national awards, but importantly it’s created jobs for people with a disability.

The airport cafe is the Island’s first social enterprise operation by the not-for-profit, Mobo Group, which provides employment opportunities to people with a disability.

Mobo group client, Beau Christiansen poses for a picture at Kangaroo Island Airport where he works at the cafe. Picture: Matt Loxton

Cafe workers include Jacob Schwerdt, 21, Tristan Curth-Strizke, 27, and Beau Christiansen, 17, each have autism and started at the cafe on November 20.

Jacob’s mother, Deb, said the changes in her son had been considerable and they never dreamt their son “would end up as a barista in a coffee shop”.

“It never crossed our minds he would be able to do that,” Mrs Schwerdt said.

“Everywhere we went we were told that because he couldn’t talk to people they weren’t interested (in employing him).

“Yet here he is in a job where he has to talk to people and he loves it.

Tristan Curth-Strizke and Jacob Schwerdt. Picture: Matt Loxton

“I’m now thinking he’s almost ready to leave home because he’s so confident and becoming so independent.”

Mobo Group employment consultant Julie Saunders said the cafe had provided the clients with sustained employment within the community.

“We’ve always had a group of people on our caseload that you just can’t place in open employment,” Ms Saunders said.

“So we’re very excited about this.”

Travellers snapping up cheap flights to Mount Gambier

REX Airlines’ offer of $129 one-way fares between Adelaide and Mt Gambier have resulted in an 8.7 per cent increase in air travel, according to the council.

Grant District Council chief executive David Singe said the community fares available on 25 per cent of seats 30 days prior to departure had sold exceptionally well. “The passenger figures for the first couple of months of the agreement went up 6.7 per cent, then another 2 per cent the following month,” Mr Singe said. “We’re literally waiting to see the data of what happened in December, because load numbers are traditionally less in December and at their lowest in January.”

Rex and the council entered a five-year partnership to allow $129 fares until 2023. If seats are available on flights one day prior to departure they are offered as a community fare – a saving of about $48.