Cairns to Bali no more as Jetstar scraps direct flights for months
Cairns locals who have booked an overseas break have been left in the lurch by Jetstar’s decision to suspend its direct services for months.
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TRAVELLERS planning a Bali getaway have been left angry and confused after Jetstar suspended its Cairns to Bali route over a three-month period.
Direct flights running between Cairns and Denpasar have been cancelled from September until December with passengers being diverted through to Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide or Darwin before being connected them on a second flight to Bali.
Some passengers they can expect a five to eight hour layover making the once five-hour round trip take up to 17 hours.
Mount Sheridan woman Rachel Mahoney said she was surprised to stumble across the changed fight details.
“I wasn’t told or anything … I checked my app and that’s when I noticed the flights were going from Cairns to Melbourne, then back to Bali,” she said.
“When I rang they said they could divert me via Adelaide so I could stay with family as they said they said they weren’t going to fix me any accommodation or anything.
“Coming home we have an eight-hour stopover until we get back to Cairns and with kids it’s a long time.”
A Cairns man, who didn’t want to be named, said he’d been trying to contact the airline for nine days after receiving two itineraries.
“It has been extremely difficult to get any answers or support,” he said.
A Jetstar spokesman told the Cairns Post multiple issues had contributed to the decision to suspend the direct flights, including low demand.
“Customers who are impacted by the suspension will be contacted directly and offered a range of options,” he said.
But holiday-makers said they felt their options were limited.
Sharyn Moody, from Mooroobool, said she also hadn’t been contacted by the airline and had to rearrange time off work because of the change.
“I would have liked at least an email,” she said.
“Because of the flight difference I have had to take an extra two days of work and I am a casual so I am not impressed with that.”
Customers also reported being charged more than what they originally paid for the flights and not being compensated for added accommodation costs they would encounter due to the layover.
The Jetstar spokesman confirmed that no additional compensation would be provided for accommodation but said customers wouldn’t be charged extra for flight changes.
“On this occasion we are not providing any additional compensation however we are definitely not charging customers extra for flights.”
Cairns Airport experienced 11 flight cancellations over the school holiday period across domestic flights between the main capital cities.
Four weekly services will resume between Cairns and Bali from December 1.
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