Half price flights: Melbourne to be included in scheme the council urges

An urgent plea to add Melbourne to the discount flight scheme has been made to help the CBD recover from its worst economic crisis since World War II.

August 20, 2020 shows an empty Qantas departure terminal at Melbourne Airport. Pic: William West

An urgent call for Melbourne to be added into the Federal Government’s discount flight scheme has been made in a bid to help the ailing CBD.

Melbourne Council has slammed a decision to exclude the city in the subsidised program after the impact of COVID has been its biggest economic loss since World War II.

The Federal Government is subsidising the cost of about 800,000 fares, with money paid directly to airlines including Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar, encouraging holiday-makers to travel to Victoria between April 1 and July 31.

While there are several outbound flights from Melbourne and Avalon airports, the only flights to Victoria are to Avalon from Gold Coast and Sydney.

Councillors brought an urgent motion for Tullamarine Airport to be included in the discount flights offer which would include Avalon Airport.

It comes as the city recently launched its ‘FOMO campaign’ (fear of missing out) to attract tourism to Melbourne’s CBD.

The council will write to the Trade, Tourism and Investment federal MP Dan Tehan asking for more flights to Melbourne to be added to the scheme.

Cr Roshena Campbell said this scheme could help keep Melburnians in work.

“Melbourne has been disproportionately hit by the economic impacts of COVID and we want to make sure that Melbourne gets its fair share of this tourism package,” Cr Campbell said.

“Every extra passenger that comes into Melbourne delivers opportunities for local businesses to get back on their feet, retain workers and create jobs at this critical time for our city.”

Despite Melbourne reopening over the summer, tourist spending was down 91 per cent in November and December compared to the same time in 2019.

In a report presented to the council, data showed 29 per cent of CBD shopfronts were shut including 15 per cent which were temporarily closed due to COVID.

Lord Mayor Sally Capp said the program needed to be expanded to ensure Melbourne did not miss out on a much-needed tourism boost.

“The Federal Government needs to deliver more discounted flights into Melbourne so our economy starts flying again … Without more planes in the air, Melbourne misses out on our fair share,” Cr Capp said.

“Local tourism businesses have suffered more turbulence than anywhere else in the country as a result of the pandemic.”