Regional Express to slash weekly service between King Island and Melbourne after council stoush

A REGIONAL airline will slash 30 per cent of its weekly services between King Island and Melbourne next month as a result of its stoush with the local council.

A REGIONAL airline will drop four flights from its weekly services between King Island and Melbourne next month as a result of its stoush with the local council.

King Island Council is introducing a fee-per-passenger charge to airlines to make its refurbished airport a break-even venture.

COUNCIL, REX AT LOGGERHEADS OVER AIRPORT FEES RISE

Regional Express has decided to cancel a Melbourne-to-King Island and a King Island-to-Melbourne flight on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from August 14 “in an attempt to reduce the negative financial impact of the doubling of airport charges”.

King Island Airport.

“REX will be monitoring the situation thereafter and will make further adjustments to the schedule and ticket prices as necessary,” the airline said in a statement.

“REX regrets that the current myopic leadership at the local council has resulted in such an outcome, but promises that it is open to reviewing the matter when there is a more enlightened leadership in place at the council.”

Earlier this month, the King Island Council claimed REX was “putting a gun to the island’s head by trying to dictate commercial arrangements”.

The council was not available for comment.