Media release – Jeremy Rockliff, Premier, 5 September 2022
Tasmania must not be unfairly disadvantaged by airline businesses
With our economy and tourism industry continuing to rebound after a difficult few years, it is absolutely paramount that Tasmania’s airline capacity is not significantly reduced ahead of our peak tourism period in coming months.
While we understand it has been a turbulent few years for the airline industry, it’s simply not good enough for Tasmania to be disadvantaged unfairly by the same airline businesses that we have strongly supported through the pandemic.
Disappointingly, it appears the Qantas Group has hit Tasmania with a disproportionately higher level of reduction than elsewhere across Australia – despite being the jurisdiction most reliant on air travel.
Even worse, these changes appear to have been quietly rolled out by the airlines under the cover of darkness, while also resulting in higher airfares – which is already evident in coming months.
I have already written to both the CEO of the Qantas Group and the CEO of Virgin Australia expressing my displeasure about this issue, and have met with the Qantas Group CEO last week to again express my real concerns
I have followed up again formally with both airlines today, and it’s my clear expectation that both airlines respond as soon as possible and clarify the situation.
We will continue to communicate with the airlines in a constructive way, but we will not be dudded – we will fight strongly for Tasmanians to get a fair go.
