Rex trial of 150 extra seats to Gulf communities starts in March, to boost Far North Queensland tourism

A trial to increase the number of flights to remote Gulf communities from Cairns has the potential to literally save lives, as well as offering other benefits to residents, businesses and tourism.

A trial to increase the number of flights to remote Gulf communities from Cairns has the potential to literally save lives, as well as offering other benefits to residents, businesses and tourism.

The 10-month, $1.2m trial with Regional Express Airlines (Rex) will begin on March 6 and introduce additional flights on Mondays and Fridays for the remote communities of Normanton and Mornington Island.

Mornington Shire Council Mayor Kyle Yanner said the additional flights would greatly benefit the community.

“I know for a fact that it will definitely help with the Queensland Health as their roster changes, normally the outgoing doctor would fly out in the morning and the incoming one in the afternoon, leaving us without a doctor for five hours every three weeks,” he said.

“So this extra service will change that and it could save a life.”

The extra flight was announced by Acting Premier Steven Miles and Cairns MP Michael Healy in Cairns on Thursday.

It means 150 more seats will be available for people to travel to and from the Gulf region, allowing residents more opportunity to travel to Cairns for health or family reasons and for tourists to visit a unique part of the country.

Queensland Acting Premier Steven Miles with State Member for Cairns Michael Healy at the Cairns Domestic terminal on Thursday. Picture Emily Barker.

Cr Yanner said his council have worked for 18 months for the extra flights.

“After a year and a half of lobbying for the community we have finally got it across the line, another tick of the box for the community,” he said.

“We have a lot of FIFO workers, mainly Queensland government employees in health, education, youth justice and justice, and these services are vital for our community.”

He said the extra flight would also help with Queensland Health’s roster.

“This became apparent a few months ago when a local resident suffered chest pains and rushed to the hospital to have no doctor there,” Cr Yanner said.

“The nurses had to call a doctor and put the patient on a teams meeting to access him,

“So this extra service will change that and it could save a life.”

Cr Yanner said the community gave “a big thankyou to TMR and Rex for their support.”

Mornington Shire Council Mayor Kyle Yanner said the additional flights would greatly benefit his community. Picture: Supplied

Rex’s Cairns-based Queensland state manager Steve Jones said the additional capacity of 150 seats a week was fantastic news for the region.

“Rex have been offering these service to remote Gulf communities since January 1, 2015,” he said.

“We started with four return flights a week, it increased to five and soon will be six.

“I know this does not sound like a lot, but capacity growth is very important.”

Acting Premier Steven Miles confirmed the Palaszczuk Government would invest $1.2 million in the trial.

“The Monday flight will take off from Cairns and stop in Normanton before travelling to Mornington Island and then returning to Cairns,” he said.

“The Friday service will leave from Cairns and stop on Mornington Island first before stopping in Normanton and returning to Cairns.”

He said they will provide additional capacity to ensure essential services are delivered in the gulf and they will also provide better access to health, education and employment in regional centres such as Cairns and Mount Isa.

“The flights will also provide a boost for tourism to ensure more people can travel to and experience one of the most beautiful and unique parts of the country,” he said.

Rex has announced an additional 150 seats a week will be available from March 6, 2023, to and from the remote Gulf communities of Mornington Island and Normanton from Cairns. Picture: Supplied

Assistant Minister Tourism Industry Development and Cairns MP Michael Healy said more flights meant more people passing through Cairns Airport.

“Which is great news for our local economy,” he said.

“This trial will complement the existing gulf regulated air route, which provides services for the communities of Burketown and Doomadgee in addition to Normanton and Mornington Island.”

Rex general manager of network strategy Warrick Lodge said the airline had operated Gulf route services in partnership with the Department of Transport and Main Roads since January 2015.

“The increase in capacity supports this growth in demand,” he said.

“And will be instrumental in enhancing the social and economic wellbeing of these remote Communities in 2023.”

Meanwhile, residents are encouraged to make use of these additional services as the performance of the trial service will be assessed before a decision on the future of the services is made before the end of 2023.

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Originally published as Rex trial of 150 extra seats to Gulf communities starts in March, to boost Far North Queensland tourism