Government to halve flight prices in $1.2bn tourism plan

[Indiana]

Just saw this on ABC News.

EDIT: Link to article Government to slash domestic airfares to get more Aussies to holiday at home

"The destinations are the Gold Coast, Cairns, the Whitsundays region, the Sunshine Coast, the Lasseter region which includes Uluru, Alice Springs, Launceston, Devonport, Burnie, Broome, Avalon, Merimbula and Kangaroo Island.

Routes and the precise number of tickets will be driven by demand and are still being discussed with airlines, but it is estimated an average of 46,000 half-price fares will be offered each week mostly with Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar."
View attachment 242931

Exciting news! Can't wait!!

 

[Indiana]

Sad but probably true. I’ll be watching for details with some interest though as a lot of the destinations look potentially attractive. Mind you I’m still concerned about arbitrary border closures so for me it’s not a total no brainer just yet. Still bearing scars of multiple trips to Vic and Qld affected/prevented by closures.

Great thing is, Qantas matches any discount flights from other airlines like Rex etc, but your right in regards to border closures and uncertainty. Good thing Virgin still has the option of changing flights/dates etc until June I think it is?

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<sets alarm for 01 0001 Apr 21>

(which is a Thursday btw)

I know right! Haha....was just thinking that! I want to get in on Alice Springs for sure! I'm on the button the minute these flights go on sale!

 

[Indiana]

This is good news hopefully it’s enough.

And hopefully our moronic state premiers stop shutting borders...

QLD CHO has said in a few weeks when all the healthcare workers and elderly are done they will not be closing borders anymore period so other states should follow.

There was a mention by the government asking states to keep their borders open at these times.....whether it happens or not we will see.

Post automatically merged: Mar 11, 2021

Guarantee to keep state borders open?

That's the hope!

Post automatically merged: Mar 11, 2021

These half price tickets are going to be snapped up in 5 seconds flat....

When you think about it 800,000 isn’t actually that many!

I predict all 3 airline websites will crash under demand when it launches.

Exactly! Alarm set as we speak!!

 

[Indiana]

These half price tickets are going to be snapped up in 5 seconds flat....

When you think about it 800,000 isn’t actually that many!

I predict all 3 airline websites will crash under demand when it launches.

Exactly! Alarm set as we speak!!

I think they will be released a certain numbers over some weeks.

Restrictions on the number you can buy??

Probably will be. But can everyone just wait until I have my return flight to Alice Springs please!.....*grins*

 

[AIRwin]

Good thing Virgin still has the option of changing flights/dates etc until June I think it is?

Flexible Flying policy applies for travel up to 31 January 2022 when you book by 30 April 2021:

Virgin Australia | Bring on Wonderful

Fly with award-winning service and great value fares to popular destinations across Australia. We can't wait to welcome you onboard Virgin Australia soon.

travel.virginaustralia.com

 

[Pushka]

i checked on hotel accommodation for Hamilton Island a few weeks ago for July. The prices were eye watering and all with the usual 'services will be reduced according to Covid protocols'.

 

[AIRwin]

VA already has a placeholder alert on their website:

Travel alerts | Virgin Australia

Border restrictions are changing and we are receiving higher than normal call volumes. We also advise guests check the latest Government advice prior to travel.

www.virginaustralia.com

Government subsidised half-price airfares will be available to book from 1 April 2021 on virginaustralia.com. More information available soon.

 

[Daver6]

From the Oz online:

View attachment 242935

Lack of options from Perth is disappointing

 

[AIRwin]

Welcoming news:
QF - https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/m...federal-governments-aviation-support-package/
VA - Virgin Australia Welcomes Aviation Support Package
Rex - I haven't seen any yet
Alliance - latest news on their website was pre-COVID

 

[RooFlyer]

Of course the whingers out in force. Queensland government whinging that Brisbane to north Queensland not included, CEO of Flight Centre saying that it will do nothing for the aviation industry ( seriously!) and it was only a could of weeks of flights ( yeah, definitely not worth doing). Union rep saying that it was “a dagger into the heart of aviation workers”, and someone else saying that there is nothing in the package for the hotel industry ( I wonder where they think people will sleep when they have taken their flights!)

Edit: Southern Tasmania whingeing that the north of the state got something that they didn’t ( although this, and vice versa, is an every day occurrence).

One thing you can bank on when the government hands out free money, is the wailing and whining that it’s not enough.

 

[milehighclub]

Union rep saying that it was “a dagger into the heart of aviation workers”,

Do you have a link/source for that. I am curious to what was said.

EDIT: Found it
He said "The announcement is like a dagger through the hearts of aviation workers who have been kept afloat, just, by the JobKeeper package," he said.
The national secretary of the Transport Workers' Union (TWU), Michael Kaine, argued the aviation sector should have been offered its own wage subsidy program once JobKeeper ends.

The e-mail to us says:
"Direct financial support through to the end of October 2021 for Qantas and Jetstar employees who primarily support international flying and who continue to be impacted by stand downs and international border closures. (Detail to be finalised shortly.)"

 

[Townsend]

Anyone who lives in or near Canberra are allowed to complain as there is not one flight from there!

 

[kamchatsky]

i checked on hotel accommodation for Hamilton Island a few weeks ago for July. The prices were eye watering and all with the usual 'services will be reduced according to Covid protocols'.

I was thinking of HTI as well. However I just see everything on the ground is so expensive, the savings of airfares just doesn't do much for me.

 

[Franky]

Anyone who lives in or near Canberra are allowed to complain as there is not one flight from there!

We in Perth could all fly to Rotto, it's only a 20m flight...

 

[dajop]

Anyone who lives in or near Canberra are allowed to complain as there is not one flight from there!

Aren't there CBR-OOL and CBR-MCY flights? Edit: Looks like QQ flights CBR-MCY not covered.

 

[RooFlyer]

Do you have a link/source for that. I am curious to what was said.

EDIT: Found it

Good . I just heard it on the radio.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Rex - I haven't seen any yet

Not too many Rexy routes on the list. If you listen closely you can probably hear the howls of outrage in Rexland.

 

[dajop]

Not too many Rexy routes on the list. If you listen closely you can probably hear the howls of outrage in Rexland.

I guess there’s MEL-BWT/MIM/OOL and SYD-OOL. But the Rex 737 routes don’t need any stimulation , the presence of three players on such routes do much more for making fares affordable than these sorts of subsidies ever will.

 

[clifford]

....when the government hands out free money....

Isn't that what Govt's are for? What's the alternative?

 

[Mattg]

Welcoming news:
QF - https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/m...federal-governments-aviation-support-package/
VA - Virgin Australia Welcomes Aviation Support Package
Rex - I haven't seen any yet
Alliance - latest news on their website was pre-COVID

Neil Hansford was interviewd on ABC NewsRadio this morning. The interviewer asked him whether smaller airlines would be able to benefit as much as Qantas and Virgin, and his reply was along the lines of "I can hear Rex whinging already".