King, Flinders Island flights: Sharp Airlines gutted by Covid-19

‘Seven of eight crew members absent’: The managing director of an airline which services two Tasmanian islands has apologised for recent issues. WHEN NORMAL SERVICES WILL RESUME>>

The managing director of an airline which provides the main link between Tasmania and the Bass Straight islands has apologised for two months of Covid-19-induced chaos at the carrier, revealing outbreaks have cut crews and engineering departments to the bone.

Malcolm Sharp, managing director of Sharp Airlines, which operates flights from Melbourne, Hobart, Launceston and Wynyard to Flinders and King islands, said it would be another month before ongoing “disruptions” to flight schedules would be ironed out.

Mr Sharp said the primary cause of the delays were Covid-19 outbreaks within engineering departments in Melbourne and Launceston.

“This has created a backlog in scheduled servicing that will not clear until early April,” he said.

“With aircraft on the ground awaiting servicing, we are operating over 100 flights per week in Tasmania with minimal aircraft, and any serviceability issues at the moment have a large flow-on effect.”

Captain Zac Borromeo and managing director Malcolm Sharp at Hobart Airport as the first flights to King and Flinders Island began in 2020. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Flight crew had also been affected by the virus, Mr Sharp said.

“At one point, seven of our eight Launceston flight crew members were absent due to Covid-19 or close contact rules,” he said.

“While it can be frustrating, I guarantee you that our staff and contractors have been working tirelessly to facilitate your needs.

“With the reduction in case numbers and the majority of people vaccinated, along with our own mitigation strategies, we are now confident the disruptions to schedules are nearly behind us.”

Mr Sharp said additional services added to all routes for the airline’s summer schedule, between October 1, 2022 – April 30, 2023.

The upcoming winter service, in effect from May 2, will see 22 return services from Launceston and Burnie to King Island per week, and 15 return services from Hobart and Launceston to Flinders Island per week.

Flinders Mayor Annie Revie said the island was dependant on the Sharp services and she was grateful for the explanation by the managing director.

“We all know staffing is a problem everywhere,” she said.

Castle Rock. Flinders Island, Tasmania. Picture: Marina Hacquin

Ms Revie feted Sharp’s booking team, who she believed had gone above and beyond to find flights for passengers who had a pressing need to travel.

King Island Mayor Julie Arnold said the delays and cancellations have had “substantial impacts” on locals, especially those who have required travel for medical appointments.

She also said tourists had been affected.

“I spoke to a group of tourists on the main street (on Wednesday) and their flight had been delayed by an hour, so some of them missed their connections,” Ms Arnold said.

She said Sharp Airlines was “integral” to the community.