AIRNORTH CUTS OFF CAIRNS
No more direct flights from Toowoomba
REGIONAL airline Airnorth will cancel its flights to Cairns from Toowoomba’s Wellcamp Airport later this year.
On Friday the airline contacted customers booked on flights after mid-October to let them know their been cancelled.
Robin Beazley was due to fly to Cairns in November, but was told by the airline on Friday flights had flight, and all flights to Cairns from October, had been cancelled.
“I’m very sad after I was informed by Airnorth that my flight had been cancelled,” Ms Beazley said.
“(It’s) apparently due to lack of bookings.”
Ms Beazley said her daughher ter lived in Cairns and she regularly used the airline to fly to the tropical city.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed all my flights, whether they were north or south, with Airnorth, as have all my family over the last couple of years,” she said.
“The convenience of only having to drive to Wellcamp could not be beaten.
“Hopefully they will reconsider their decision to reinstate flights to Cairns if public demand does improve.”
Several other readers have contacted The Chronicle to discuss their dismay at the decision.
“They phoned me (on Friday afternoon) to cancel my (Christmas) flights,” one reader said.
“They said it’s not a viable run so cancelled (the flights) from (October).”
Wellcamp Airport general manager Sara Hales said the news Airnorth was cutting the Cairns route was “disappointing”.
“Losing one air service is of course disappointing, however, our success rate is pretty exceptional in what is a very tough industry, and we will always continue to work towards more services for our community,” Ms Hales said.
“We are passionately committed to growing air connectivity for Toowoomba and the Darling Downs.
“Our region now enjoys over 80 flights a week to destinations such as Sydney, Melbourne, Townsville, Western Queensland and even Hong Kong.”
Airnorth began flying between Wellcamp Airport and Cairns in March 2016.
It still operates flights from Wellcamp to Melbourne and to Townsville, with the later flight expanding operations to four services a week in January of this year.
At the time Airnorth said it was committed to “servicing the Darling Downs region”.
“Toowoomba and Darling Downs residents continue to remain positive towards the 14 weekly services that Airnorth operates in and out of Wellcamp Airport,” a spokesperson said in January.
In June, Qantas announced it had cut two of its flights between Wellcamp and Sydney, due to the international pilot shortage.
Airnorth has been contacted for comment about the Cairns route cancellation.