Government to spend up to $165m to ensure key centres continue to be serviced by domestic flights

Sustaining Australia’s aviation industry seen as ‘critical to protecting livelihoods and saving lives’.

Qantas and Virgin Australia will operate a minimum domestic network subsidised by taxpayers to keep the country connected during the coronavirus crisis. Picture: Emma Brasier/AAP

Up to $165m will be spent by the federal government to make sure that a minimum network of domestic services will continue to be operated by Qantas and Virgin Australia.

After days of discussions by the government and the airlines, agreement has been reached to subsidise flights servicing “critical metropolitan and regional routes” for an initial eight weeks, starting Friday.

Regional centres included in the network are Albury, Alice Springs, Coffs Harbour, Dubbo, Kalgoorlie, Mildura, Port Lincoln, Rockhampton, Tamworth, Townsville and Wagga Wagga.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said sustaining Australia’s aviation industry was critical to protecting livelihoods and saving lives.

“As Australians are asked to stay home unless absolutely necessary, we are ensuring secure affordable access for passengers who need to travel including our essential workers such as frontline medical personnel and defence personnel, as well as supporting the movement of essential freight such as critical medicine and personal protective equipment,” said Mr McCormack.

“We know that a strong domestic aviation network is critical to Australia’s success and this announcement demonstrates our commitment, yet again, to maintain connectivity during this pandemic.”

Qantas and Virgin Australia had slashed their domestic services back to a bare minimum, with Qantas using just three aircraft to fly within Australia and Virgin operating only one route, Melbourne-Sydney, six times a week.

The reductions followed strict travel bans by states and orders for people not to travel unless absolutely necessary.

Mr McCormack said the subsidised network would also help Australians returning from overseas to a different city, to complete their journey home after spending 14-days in quarantine.

Passengers will be able to book seats on the flights through the airlines’ websites, with “fair prices” expected to be charged given that the government will cover any losses.

A Qantas spokesman said the subsidised flights would see the airline increase its domestic services from 105 a week currently, to 164 a week.

Social distancing had been put into place on all services and the onboard service had been scaled back for the safety of cabin crew, who would wear personal protective equipment.

Virgin Australia said the schedule would begin on Friday and run until June 7, with flights progressively on sale at virginaustralia.com.

“As a major Australian airline, we are proud to support the federal government in returning passengers home and enabling essential travellers to continue flying during this time,” said a Virgin Australia spokeswoman.

Both airlines are also conducting subsidised international services to bring Australians home from overseas.

Regular flights are being operated to London, Los Angeles, Hong Kong and Auckland, at prices ranging from $400 to $1500 one-way.