Fears changes to Qantas Alice Springs-Adelaide service could reduce seats

The Flying Kangaroo has been slammed by Alice Springs locals over controversial changes to its flights in and out of the Red Centre.

TOURISM Minister Nicole Manison has heaped further pressure on the Flying Kangaroo over its decision to reduce seats between Alice Springs and Adelaide by nearly a quarter.

It follows Qantas’ reshuffle of services being labelled a “kick in the guts” by local tourism operators on Thursday.

Though the carrier has increased the number of flights from seven to 10 flights per week, it has substituted its much larger 737 aircraft with smaller Embraer E190s.

Tourism Central Australia has calculated this to mean a 22 per cent reduction in the total number of seats between the two centres.

The new schedule comes into effect on July 25, and comes just weeks after Qantas also cancelled the Alice Springs-Perth route entirely.

Ms Manison said she was “extremely disappointed” to hear of the changes, saying the airline had blamed staffing shortages and fuel prices for the decisions.

“We want Qantas to back our hugely important tourism industry in Alice Springs and we will continue our robust conversations with them, lobbying for this to change,” she said.

“Qantas is a national carrier and reducing flights to Australia’s Red Centre is a damaging move to a crucial tourism link for the nation.”

Ms Manison said she understood airlines were “having problems” post-Covid.

Tourism Central Australia chief executive Danial Rochford has blasted the changes, saying it reduced the number of seats into Alice Springs each year by 14,500.

Qantas has made another unpopular change to its services. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Mr Rochford further calculated that combined with the end of direct flights to Perth, this meant a 32,000-seat reduction to the Red Centre from Qantas.

“This is a kick in the guts to our tourism industry and our community which will be adversely impacted by this drop in seats,” he said.

“With over $500m in investment in the pipeline in Central Australia, we need more seats coming into Alice Springs, not less seats.”

Mr Rochford said his organisation and its members held “grave fears” of increased airfares as a result of the changes.

“Our town and our region should be up in arms over this decision, and let Qantas know enough is enough.”

Tourism Central Australia chief executive Danial Rochford has slammed the changes. Picture: File.

A Qantas spokeswoman said using the smaller aircraft allowed the company to offer more flights, which were better timed with connections to other cities.

“These additional flights and stronger connections make Alice Springs more accessible for visitors and give residents of Central Australia more travel options,” the spokeswoman said.

“The E190 aircraft gives Qantas the flexibility to increase flights during peak season to up to 14 each week which would be more seats each week compared to pre-COVID.”

Alice Springs mayor Matt Paterson said it only added to the issues faced by locals, who had to “pay an arm and a leg” to visit loved ones interstate.

“It’s obviously extremely disappointing because we want more flights and more seats into Alice Springs,” Mr Paterson said.

“It really takes away from the liveability of Alice Springs.”

Mr Paterson said he was looking at alternatives, including discussions with other airlines, to cater for what he sees as missed demand.

And he took aim at Qantas for seemingly abandoning its roots.

“Let’s not forget the NT in Qantas stands for Northern Territory.”

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