Qantas steps up Kang Is

QANTAS Group is stepping up its services to Kangaroo Island, more than doubling its flights to the region from Adelaide following Regional Express’ (Rex) recent decision to exit the route (TD Tue).

From Jul, QantasLink will operate 12 weekly services to the island, up from its existing five per week on-peak, and three off-peak.

Rex on Tue laid out its intentions to pull out of the SYD-BNK and ADL-KGC routes, noting “a sharp downturn in the last six months and poor economic outlook for the next 12 months”.

The regional carrier also blamed Qantas for its misfortunes and said it lodged a complaint to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

“It is obvious that the excessive additional capacity introduced by Qantas on these routes kills the ability for Rex to offer a sustainable alternative to the Qantas model for regional communities and increases Qantas’ market power,” Rex said.

Just one day after the regional airline noted it would allow for a “reasonable period” until Qantas matches its up to three daily services to the island (TD y’day), QF signalled its intention to massively boost flights.

“Now is the time to be supporting Kangaroo Island, not deserting it,” said QantasLink CEO John Gissing.

“What Kangaroo Island needs over the months and years ahead is for tourists to come back, and a reliable air service is vital for that.

Flights will be timed to allow connections from Qantas’ partner airlines, such as Emirates and American Airlines.