Jetstar cuts Avalon flights amid school holiday rush

An already quiet enough Avalon Airport will be even less busy after its major tenant cut one-fifth of its flights.

Avalon Airport is running just four return flights a day after Jetstar cut its evening Sydney flight amid the school holiday rush.

It comes days after its chief of aviation, Andrew Elliott, said the airport was running at less than half of its capacity.

Jetstar confirmed on Sunday it had suspended two Avalon flights, including the daily 7.15pm JQ610 to Sydney, until at least July 18.

It has also suspended the JQ608, which leaves on Sunday at 4.40pm.

The Geelong Advertiser understands booking numbers for the evening flight were strong throughout the school holidays and that the changes have caused confusion for passengers.

A Jetstar spokeswoman said the flights had been suspended due to globally high fuel prices and shortages.

Flights are returning to Avalon Airport with With welcoming JetStar crew Alessia Roso and Katherine Grigg. Picture: Mark Wilson

“As part of the Qantas Group domestic capacity reductions previously announced, two Jetstar services out of Avalon have been suspended,” the spokeswoman said.

“Customers have been advised of these planned schedule adjustments well before their day of travel, and have been given a range of options, including a refund.”

The Addy also understands passengers have been given the option to travel on a JQ530 flight from Tullamarine to Sydney.

Jetstar would not divulge plans for the flights past July 18, but said changes were being made to the airline’s domestic schedule for much of the new financial year.

Prior to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic Jetstar was operating seven return flights out of Avalon.

“Jetstar and Qantas are adjusting domestic capacity levels for much of FY23 to assist with the recovery of sustained high fuel prices,” the spokeswoman said.

“Customers have been advised of these planned schedule adjustments well before their day of travel, and have been given a range of options, including a refund.

“We sincerely apologise to customers for the inconvenience these changes have caused.”

Mr Elliott confirmed that, as of July 1, flights out of Avalon had been reduced again.

“Avalon Airport was notified a week before the changes were implemented,” Mr Elliott said,

“I’ve got reports from our customer service staff that we’ve had a significant number of passengers turning up for flights that have been cancelled or relocated and we are dealing with that as they arise and trying to get people to Tullamarine (airport).”

Last week Mr Elliott says the airport could “do double” its peak figure if more airlines were prepared to schedule more flights from Avalon.

He said the airport could be used to ease pressure from Melbourne Airport – which has been at capacity in recent weeks.

“We could do more destinations and we could do at least double (the number of flights) we are doing now,” he said.

Originally published as Jetstar cuts Avalon flights amid school holiday rush