Business
6 November, 2024
Airlines' reliance on Alliance draws criticism from North West passengers
Locals are frustrated that services have dropped and the prices remain sky-high on the Mount Isa-Brisbane route.
Qantas and Virgin are wet leasing aircraft from the same aviation business for the same flight route yet there are unexplained price differences on tickets between the carriers on the same flight days.
Passengers also believe the Alliance Airways aircraft that are now used by both major carriers provide reduced services, including fewer seats, lack of onboard wi-fi, poor catering services and smaller overhead luggage space without any reduction in the ticket price.
Traeger MP Robbie Katter said he would launch a petition when state parliament sits in the coming weeks to call for Qantas to end its wet leasing agreement with Alliance, which he claims is another example of reduced service delivery to Outback communities.
QantasLink switched its aircraft services for the Mount Isa and Brisbane route last month from the Boeing 737 to the Embraer E190, which is operated under a lease agreement with Alliance Aviation.
Virgin already had a similar arrangement with Alliance for the Mount Isa to Brisbane route, which includes using Fokker jets.
Aviation companies typically wet lease aircraft on short-term contracts in order to supply flight routes during peak seasonal periods or during scheduled maintenance where, under the typical terms of the agreement, Alliance also provides the staff, maintenance and insurance.
Passengers who spoke to North West Weekly expressed frustration at being forced to fly on the E190 aircraft, claiming the Alliance aircraft provided a lower quality service for the same price as when the Boeing planes were operating.
This was confirmed when North West Weekly visited the Qantas and Virgin websites this week and saw there were significant price variations between the carriers on the same flight days, with ticket differences between carriers ranging from $20 to more than $200.
Julia Creek business owner Sarah Acton said she had been forced to travel the Mount Isa to Brisbane route each fortnight for family medical appointments.
She said Qantas should not be reducing on-board air services to Outback passengers.
“We need the 737s to be brought back,” she said.
“The Alliance flights are smaller aircraft, no refreshments, no wi-fi, longer flight times – we as geographically isolated passengers shouldn’t be forced to put up with a lack of service that no one would tolerate in the cities.”
Mr Katter said he believed introducing a petition to the floor of parliament would make Qantas take notice of its responsibilities to provide adequate services for Outback communities.
“It is another example of the callous disregard the airlines have for our communities,” Mr Katter said.
“It is especially disrespectful when you consider this is the region where Qantas was founded.
“Having the same aviator being used by both major carriers makes you question how is there an effective market with effective competition in place?”
A Qantas spokesperson said the airline had increased the number of Mount Isa to Brisbane flights per week from 12, when it operated a combination of Boeing 737s and E190s, to about 20 per week, when it moved exclusively to Alliance.
“The 737 has been redeployed to other markets to support our turboprop fleet renewal and associated pilot training as we transition to an all Q400 turboprop fleet for our regional markets, including Outback Queensland,” the spokesperson said.
A Virgin spokesperson said the company was investing in new Boeing 737 MAX-8 aircraft and would assess whether to redeploy the existing 737-700 aircraft on the Mount Isa route once the new aircraft becomes available.