Qantas regional discounts

QANTAS has announced it will invest up to $10 million a year to provide greater discounts in 16 towns across Queensland, the Northern Territory and WA as part of an expansion of its discounted fares program.

Fares under the initiative will effectively be capped at $400 on one-way flights to capital cities or approximately $800 for return tickets, and importantly, can be used during peak periods and for last minute bookings.

The initial rollout of the program will happen immediately for passengers flying out of the towns of Mount Isa, Cloncurry, Longreach, Barcaldine, Blackall, Karratha and Kalgoorlie, with plans to implement the scheme in Moranbah, Roma, Charleville, Broome, Port Hedland, Newman, Paraburdoo, Alice Springs and Yulara (Ayers Rock) pending successful negotiations with regional airports and councils.

Qantas Domestic CEO Andrew David said the latest expansion was necessary because the carrier had a duty to make air access more affordable for people living in regional Australia.

“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,” 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”.

The expansion of the program is the latest in a series of regional initiatives from QF, following a drought relief program last year (TD 10 Aug 2018) and a regional grants program (TD 14 Jun).