Qantas furthers discounted fares for north west residents

The national carrier will invest up to $10 million each year in providing flight discounts for residents in 16 towns across Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia.

Currently, Qantas provides residents flying between their home town and the nearest capital city with discounts of at least 20-30 per cent - with discounted fares starting at $175-$325 per sector when booking return journeys. These discounts will remain.

Bigger discounts will now apply to fares booked during busy periods and at the last minute, so the maximum residents will pay will be approximately $400 per sector when booking return journeys (approx. $800 return)

Fares vary between regional towns and fare levels will be reviewed periodically to consider inflation or other cost increases. Qantas will continue to offer residents sale fares below these levels from time to time.

The discounted fares program applies in selected regional towns where residents compete with a very high proportion of corporate travel or are impacted by their remoteness.

The initial rollout of the program expansion will happen immediately in Mount Isa, Cloncurry, Longreach, Barcaldine, Blackall, Karratha and Kalgoorlie. Regional airports and councils in these towns have committed to reducing the fees they charge each passenger, which are built into airfares.

Qantas is consulting with local airports and councils in the other towns in the program: Moranbah, Roma, Charleville, Broome, Port Hedland, Newman, Paraburdoo, Alice Springs and Yulara (Ayers Rock).

Qantas is calling on these regional airports and councils to implement similar fee reductions for residents.

Qantas Domestic CEO Andrew David said the national carrier was responding to direct feedback from residents in regional Australia about accessing more affordable air travel.

"We have been out to visit regional communities to listen to their concerns and those raised through the Senate Inquiry into regional airfares, and we are responding," Mr David said.

"The existing discount program is proving to be extremely popular but some residents have told us that when they need to travel during peak travel periods or at the last minute, for things like funerals or urgent medical appointments, they end up booking our highest fares and paying more or they don't travel. That's why we are introducing bigger discounts to these bookings.

"The maximum residents in these towns will pay is around $400 per sector, or around $800 return.

"There are some fundamental realities about the costs of operating regional services that we can't change, particularly to remote parts of the country, but we are making this commitment and investment to assist residents in these towns."

Mr David said more than 20,000 return trips had been booked using the resident fare discounts since 2017, but many locals were not using the dedicated resident fare website and wound up paying more than they should.

"We'd like to see more residents take advantage of the savings which apply to every seat on every flight to the nearest capital city. Booking through our dedicated resident fare website is the only way to get special fares for locals, including the extra savings we are now making available," he said.

Senator for Queensland and Chair of the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee, Susan McDonald said "Qantas has quickly responded to the recent senate committee report into airfares which is excellent news for a lot of people in rural Queensland."

"This progress is the result of Qantas's willingness to work with the Federal Government to find solutions, and I hope I can continue to have similarly constructive meetings with airline management," she said.

Qantas recently removed the $99 flight change fee for new bookings made through the resident fare website to provide residents with greater flexibility and additional savings if their travel plans change. Travel on these fares is for personal use and there is a limit of 12 return fares per person, per year.

The discounted fares program is part of a broader suite of initiatives designed to support regional Australia including through drought relief, a regional grants program and the new Qantas Group Pilot Academy that is expected to drive local economic activity and support jobs when it opens in Toowoomba later this year.

The North West Star