Qantas shuns its NT roots as nation turns on Flying Kangaroo

Qantas has long-time links to the Territory but we’re fast falling out of love with the Flying Kangaroo, not least because of the appalling way it has treated us, writes Matt Cunningham.

Territorians tend to love anything that’s from the NT.

In fact, you only need the most tenuous link to the Territory to be adopted into our hearts.

We drink Paul’s Iced Coffee – the Territory’s own – by the gallon.

And we cheered on our hometown hero Cadel Evans all the way to his Tour de France victory in 2011, even though the Katherine-born cyclist departed the Top End some time around his third birthday.

But there’s one company with long-time links to the Territory that we are fast falling out of love with.

If the Queensland And Northern Territory Aerial Service is part of the NT family, it could perhaps be likened to that long-lost cousin who has found fame and fortune elsewhere and is now ashamed of where it came from.

For Qantas has been treating the Territory appallingly, particularly since the pandemic.

It’s less than two years since the Territory offered Qantas a lifeline for its direct London flights after WA Premier Mark McGowan shut his borders during Covid and cancelled Qantas in the process.

Airport Depot CEP Tom Ganley, NT Administrator Vicki O'Halloran AO, Tourism Minister Natasha Fyles at the launch of the Qantas’s Darwin to London leg at Darwin International Airport in November 2021. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Happy days... Marshall and Denise Capel clear customs as the first Qantas international flight out of London arrives in Darwin in February, 2022. Picture: Glenn Campbell

There was champagne and canapes and speeches about the airline’s proud Territory history, but as soon as those borders re-opened the Flying Kangaroo hopped back off to Perth and left us with nothing other than sky-high domestic airfares.

This week, Tourism Central Australia chief executive Danial Rochford told Katie Woolf on Mix FM he had paid $700, on a local’s fare, for the two-hour return flight from Alice Springs to Darwin.

Without the local discount the fare would have been $900.

I couldn’t help but think this was cheap.

The last time I flew from Darwin to Alice Springs at short notice it cost almost $2000.

Last month Qantas announced a fare sale for flights to the United States.

For just $1199 you could fly to Los Angeles return from Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane.

The problem for Territorians is that it will cost us about as much again to get to the east coast and back.

Remember when.... Qantas CEO Alan Joyce, then-NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner and then-Tourism Minister Natasha Fyles ahead of an announcement of new routes out of Darwin in February 2022. Picture: Glenn Campbell

The exorbitant cost of airfares is having a devastating impact in the Territory.

It affects tourism; why would any southerner book a dry season holiday to Darwin when they can fly to Cairns, Bali or Fiji for half the price?

It impacts our quality of life; love this place as much as we do it can be nice to get out of here from time to time lest we explode inside our own bubble.

And it impacts the growth our population and therefore our economy; it’s hard enough at the best of times to get young families to stay in the Territory.

It’s made even harder when flying interstate to see relatives almost sends you bankrupt.

Fifteen years ago, domestic airfares from Darwin cost a fraction of what they do now.

Tiger Airways offered sale flights to Melbourne and Brisbane at times for as little as $9.95. That decimal point is not a typo.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce during a senate hearing into the cost of living. Picture NCA NewsWire / Aaron Francis

But as competition has dried up, the costs have gone through the roof.

The only airlines that fly direct to Sydney from Darwin now are Qantas and Jetstar, which is owned by … you guessed it, Qantas.

At the time of writing the cheapest one-way flight available to Sydney next week was $344, on Jetstar, leaving at 1.20am.

If you want to pack a bag or have something to eat it will cost you more.

Most of us were probably willing to forgive Qantas these increased costs, given the cost of everything has been rising and the last thing anyone wants is for the national carrier to go under.

That changed last week when we discovered the airline has just posted a record $2.5bn profit.

It also planned to cancel credits issued for flights booked during the pandemic by the end of the year.

We then learned it had successfully lobbied the Federal Government to block 21 new flights from Qatar Airways that its codeshare partner Virgin Australia says could have seen fares reduced by 40 per cent.

“Customers have been put second, so has tourism, business, freight, many other interests, also other airlines,” former Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chair Alan Fels said.

Qantas is now in damage control.

It’s already announced a backflip on its credit cancellation policy.

But if it really wants to restore it’s once-great reputation, it might pay Qantas to start remembering where it came from.

Matt Cunningham is the Sky News Darwin bureau chief and North Australia correspondent.