Qantas, Jetstar cutting 35 return flights to Darwin

QANTAS has announced it is axing 35 return flights on a number of Darwin Jetstar and Qantas routes between April and late June

Qantas is cutting flights to Darwin due to decreasing demand

QANTAS’ decision to axe 35 return flights on a number of Darwin Jetstar and Qantas routes between April and late June would further damage business confidence, fears Chamber of Commerce NT chief executive Greg Bicknell.

Qantas domestic chief executive officer Andrew David announced the cuts to the NT News on Wednesday.

Qantas routes affected are Sydney and Brisbane. Jetstar routes are Adelaide, Melbourne and Cairns.

The affected flights will be mainly midweek and the “odd Saturday”.

Mr Bicknell said cuts to air services were some of the last things Darwin business needed in the current difficult economic conditions.

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“If it is harder to get to Darwin, tourists will go to destinations that better suit their schedules,” Mr Bicknell said.

Mr David said flights over the dry season travel peak would remain as they are.

He said the period from November to the end of January would be reviewed.

“However, we have seen a decline to Darwin, particularly from the east coast, so we’ll be reducing the frequency of flights on a some routes,” he said.

“In total 35 return flights have been cancelled on these routes over the three months, which equates to around 5 per cent of capacity on these routes.

“We have seen a 10 per cent drop in demand for interstate flights to and from Darwin in recent months.”

Qantas said forecast demand in the six months from January to the end of June 2019 had also declined by about 10 per cent compared to the previous year.

It said this was largely due to a fall in demand for corporate travel and, in particular, the end of the construction phase of Inpex, including the indirect family and friends traffic this generated.

“In order to get more people to holiday in Darwin, Alice and other parts of the Territory we need all the key players to work together – government, Tourism NT, airlines, airports and local industry,” Mr David has urged.

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“We met with the Government and NT Tourism in Darwin this week and had good discussions.”

Tourism Minister Lauren Moss said the Government would continue to work closely with its travel distribution and airline partners to strengthen routes and attract new services.

“Airline schedules and airfares are a commercial decision for airlines,” she said.

“We are succeeding in building holiday visitor demand for air services through our tourism stimulus package.”

EARLIER: QANTAS has announced it is axing 35 return flights on a number of our Jetstar and Qantas routes from April to late June.

Qantas Domestic chief executive Andrew David announced the news today to the NT News.

Qantas routes affected are Sydney and Brisbane. Jetstar routes impacted are Adelaide, Melbourne and Cairns.

Customers booked to travel on affected flights will be contacted to change their flights.

Mr David said flights over the Dry season travel peak will remain as they are.

He said what occurs from November to the end of January will then be reviewed.

“However we have seen a decline to Darwin, particularly from the east coast, so we’ll be reducing the frequency of flights on some routes,” he said.

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BEST QANTAS, JETSTAR DEALS

Qantas domestic chief executive officer Andrew David said despite the cuts, Qantas and Jetstar would continue to deliver value-for-money fares to the Territory.

BEST FARES

QANTAS

DRW–SYD $195 one way (Feb, Mar and May)

DRW–BNE $209 one way (Feb-Mar, May, June)

DRW–MEL $195 one way (Feb, Mar and May)

DRW–ADL $279 one way (May/June and Aug/Sep)

DRW–PER $219 (Feb, Mar and May

JETSTAR (one way)

DRW–SYD $119 (Feb, Mar, Apr, May and Jun)

DRW–BNE $91 (Feb–Sep)

DRW–MEL $119 (Feb, Mar, Apr, May and Jun)

DRW–ADL $114 (Feb–Sep)

DRW–CNS $104 (Feb–Sep)

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