Bay air services under threat

Attracting new services has to be balanced with ensuring that existing routes remain economically sustainable.

Alistair Brightman

FRASER COAST families and visitors are urged to use the Hervey Bay airport or lose it, as the council keeps working to lure more flights to the region.

QantasLink announced this week that two new Boeing 717 aircraft would make extra flights to Rockhampton, Gladstone and Mackay, but there was no increase for Hervey Bay.

Fraser Coast Mayor Mick Kruger said while it was disappointing no flights were added locally, the increase in services to other regional centres was driven by mining workers rather than tourists.

"Council continues to advocate for expanded air services including the 'Maybe Melbourne' campaign and northern routes, however and just as importantly, we have been able to maintain our existing services when services were being reduced in other regions," he said.

"Attracting new services has to be balanced with ensuring that existing routes remain economically sustainable or we risk losing them."

He said the council was also talking with smaller operators and charter companies about introducing new services and routes, to take advantage of the booming resource sector areas.

QantasLink increased capacity to the Fraser Coast by 604 seats a week in April last year.

Despite a 5% increase in passengers, there was not enough demand to account for the extra seats and QantasLink reverted to using smaller aircraft.