Premier David Crisafulli believe questions need to be asked about airline unreliability
The Premier has called on airlines to tackle the growing unreliability of their services after his Ingham parents nearly missed his swearing-in, calling it a prime example of how regional passengers are often left stranded.
The new North Queensland born and raised Premier said airline companies needed to address increased unreliability of its services, using his parents’ missed flight to his swearing in ceremony as an example of jilted regional passengers.
However David Crisafulli stopped short of endorsing government intervention when questioned about costs to North Queensland airline services.
In an interview with B105’s Stav, Abby and Matt, the new Premier said his Ingham parents Karen and Tony nearly missed his special moment last Monday even though they cautiously booked their flights to Brisbane for the night before, which was cancelled.
They were unable to get on the early flight, but were able to fly in half an hour before the ceremony began at government house, and fortunately made it with two minutes to spare.
On Tuesday Mr Crisafulli visited Townsville where media asked if his parents’ were an example that airlines needed to improve their services.
“Well, I think there’s some questions that need answering from the airlines, and that’s not just on behalf of my mum and dad, two very passionate Italians,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“Look, it’s something that we all experience, I travel in regional Queensland as much as anyone, and the increasing unreliability of the frequency of air travel is detrimental to people, and here’s an example, put aside the fact of who it is.
“Here’s an example of people who had an appointment to get to in the morning, so they chose to fly the night before and still didn’t really make something by lunchtime.
“That’s what every regional Queenslander is at the mercy of at the moment.”
Residents of isolated North Queensland communities such as Mount Isa has been critical of airline reliability and costs for years.
A return flight from Mount Isa to Brisbane scheduled in a month would cost more than $900, and president of Mount Isa’s business group, Commerce North West, Emma Harman, said little had been done to alleviate airline costs and unreliability, despite a senate inquiry being held six years previous.
Even with the airlines offering resident discounts the costs hurt Mount Isa residents and affected business confidence.
“As you know, a lot of people fly in and out of Mount Isa for work,” Ms Harman said.
“It’s not necessarily Fly In Fly Out workers for the mine as such, but just anybody in commerce and in industry.
“The government flies people in and out of Mount Isa all the time.
“So not being able to trust that your flight is going to leave on time, arrive on time or even show up, definitely does affect it.”
