Confusion as Jetstar cancels swag of ‘sold out’ Adelaide to Darwin services

JETSTAR has cancelled a swag of ‘sold out’ flights from Adelaide to Darwin in the first three weeks of August

Jetstar has cancelled a swag of ‘sold out’ flights from Adelaide to Darwin in the first three weeks of August. Picture: Brendan Radke

JETSTAR has cancelled a swag of “sold out” flights from Adelaide to Darwin in the first three weeks of August.

Gone are the August 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14 and 16 flights. All have been cancelled a Jetstar spokesman confirmed yesterday.

The only Jetstar flights from Adelaide to Darwin are now August 4, 11, 15, 18, 20, 22, 25, 27, 29.

The cancellations sparked confusion among travellers because the website showed the flights on the cancelled dates as sold out rather than showing them as cancelled services.

The airline indicated the Adelaide to Darwin route had not attracted the passenger capacity in early August so the planned frequency of six services a week has been reduced to one service a week.

In the week starting July 10 the frequency is two services.

The following week it increases to three services a week, still well short of the expected six services.

A spokesman for Jetstar said the airline was currently operating a significantly reduced schedule.

The spokesman said this was due to the impacts COVID-19 has had on travel demand right across the network, and border restrictions for some routes.

“We hope to see domestic travel increase in coming months, and are making regular assessments to match the number of flights to demand,” the spokesman said.

“Customers who have been impacted by these domestic flight cancellations have been contacted with a range of alternative options.

“This includes an alternative flight if available at no additional cost, a credit voucher or a refund where no other flights are available.”

Just a month ago Jetstar launched cheap Adelaide to Darwin fares for August selling for as low as $89. It was part of a promotion by Jetstar and Qantas of discounted fares on 200,000 seats across a raft of national destinations.

Jetstar’s sale was across 35 routes, for 15 destinations, in the NT, Queensland, NSW, Victoria and South Australia.

Today the August 4 and 11 Jetstar services from Adelaide to Darwin are $699 one way.

Services arriving from other states into Darwin yesterday have reported good passenger numbers.

Yesterday’s Qantas Perth flight was about 70 per cent full and the Virgin Australia flight from Brisbane was full.