QANTAS will operate a smaller aircraft for four of its weekly Mount Isa services.
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A Qantas spokesperson confirmed four of its 13 services into Mount Isa from Brisbane will use a smaller QantasLink Boeing 717 aircraft.
“Qantas continues to operate 13 services per week into Mount Isa from Brisbane. Of those 13 services, nine are operated by Qantas Boeing 737 aircraft and from 10 April four services per week are operated by QantasLink Boeing 717 aircraft,” the spokesperson said.
“We wanted to ensure that we were able to maintain the frequency of services so that’s why on some flights, we operate the Boeing 717 instead of the Boeing 737.”
“It’s about making sure that we have the right aircraft on the right route to meet demand and we’re committed to serving Mount Isa and the wider region.”
Questions by The North West Star to the Qantas spokesperson about the reasons for the downsizing were unanswered.
The spokesperson did not answer questions about whether flight prices would drop considering a smaller, lesser quality aircraft would be used for the flights.
Mount Isa Deputy Mayor Brett Peterson slammed the decision to use a lesser service while customers still had to pay premium price.
“We’re paying top dollar for the flights – give us the services we’re paying for,” he said.
“With that length of flight, we need quality services.”
Cr Peterson believed the decision would impact on livability for Mount Isa residents and also make it more difficult for employers to attract staff.
He called on mining companies such as Glencore to put more pressure on airlines to reduce flight fares.
“It was hoped that when Virgin came to Mount Isa it would bring the prices down, but it hasn’t,” he said.
Cr Peterson said he will lobby for airlines to have ‘standby’ flights at cheaper rates for Mount Isa residents when flights were not fully booked.