Alice Springs, Darwin to get extra Qantas flights under $165 million support fund

ALICE Springs and Darwin will get extra Qantas services under a $165 million support fund set up by the Federal Government.

Alice Springs and Darwin will get extra Qantas services under a $165 million support fund set up by the Federal Government. Picture: AAP Image/Jordan Shields

ALICE Springs and Darwin will get extra Qantas services because of a $165 million support fund.

The fund was set up by the Federal Government to ensure Qantas and Virgin Australia operate a minimum domestic network servicing the most critical metropolitan and regional routes in Australia.

The Federal Government is underwriting the cost of the network, which includes all state and territory capital cities and major regional centres Alice Springs, Albury, Coffs Harbour, Dubbo, Kalgoorlie, Mildura, Port Lincoln, Rockhampton, Tamworth, Townsville and Wagga Wagga.

The Territory will get two more Qantas Alice Springs to Darwin return services a week and two extra Qantas Alice Springs to Sydney return services funded from the Federal Government funding pool.

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Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said sustaining Australia’s aviation industry is critical to protecting livelihoods and saving lives and that’s why the Government had acted.

The announcement is understood to also provide support for around 28 Virgin flights out of Brisbane – none to the Territory – amid speculation the airline is on the verge of collapse.

Mr McCormack said the services would ensure secure and affordable access for passengers who need to travel, including our essential workers such as frontline medical personnel and defence personnel, as well as supporting the movement of essential freight such as critical medicine and personal protective equipment.

“This investment will also help Australians returning from overseas, who find themselves in a different city after 14 days of mandatory quarantine, complete their journey home safely,” he said.

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Mr McCormack said the arrangements will last for an initial eight weeks with a review mechanism in place, whereby the Government will continue to monitor the market and determine if further action is required.