iscover
QantasLink has given a route from Perth to Busselton-Margaret River the chop after less than three months.
The service, which launched in June, will end on 10 October, with the Flying Kangaroo saying flights had been operating less than 20 per cent full on average and forward bookings were underperforming expectations for the busy season.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
The 45-minute flights operated three times per week on Fokker 100 aircraft, at $450 for a round-trip ticket, and had been expected to attract around 15,000 passengers per year. Virgin Australia Regional Airlines also currently operates the same route.
“We constantly review our network to ensure we have the right aircraft operating on the right routes that reflect the needs of our customers,” a Qantas spokesperson said.
“Unfortunately, the demand for flights between Perth and Busselton has been much lower than expected and we’ve made the difficult decision to withdraw from the route.
“QantasLink will maintain a presence in the Busselton-Margaret River region with ad hoc charter flights from Perth, alongside Jetstar’s direct flights from Sydney and Melbourne.”
The WA Government had planned to back the service through its $75 million Aviation Recovery Fund, but had yet to pay any money to Qantas. A government spokesperson told media that the move to axe the route was a commercial decision for Qantas.
“Importantly, Busselton remains well connected to Australia’s east coast through direct flights from Sydney and Melbourne, which continue to bring thousands of visitors into the South West each year,” the spokesperson said.
“The region is also easily accessible by road, with travel into the South West from Perth made faster with the recent opening of the Wilman Wadandi Highway.
“The South West remains one of WA’s most iconic visitor destinations, and we will continue to explore new opportunities to stimulate tourism and support local operators in the region, including through marketing campaigns and drawcard regional events like Pair’d Margaret River Region.”
Qantas Group currently operates two Jetstar services from Sydney and Melbourne to Busselton-Margaret River, with its Sydney route getting underway in March last year.
The Melbourne–Busselton route was first announced in 2019 to commence in March of 2020, but was delayed due to COVID-19. WA’s government has been considering a new terminal at Busselton Margaret River for several years, but put off the expansion in 2020.
Customers on the cancelled Perth-Busselton flights will be offered refunds or the opportunity to transfer onto one of the Jetstar services.
[email protected]
says:I would suggest that the AU$450.00 return fare is the major cause for the lack of bookings. Not worth it!