CHARTER plane tickets at half the cost of a Qantas flight could be possible from Cloncurry to Townsville.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
This is according to Cloncurry resident Hamish Griffin, who has met with two charter flight companies and several shire councillors to discuss a charter alternative to major airlines in order to obtain more affordable tickets.
Mr Griffin said that he has received quotes from a charter company which indicates that if all seats were filled in a 100 seat plane it could be half the cost of a typical airfare. He said a committee to organise this would need to be formed and he had local community leaders interested in discussing this further.
Issues would still need to be resolved before the idea was feasible. “There would be things like the ground handling. Also security and the legalities of operating a charter so we discussed things like the amount charter airlines pay to having airport fees higher than commercial airlines, so that’s something to talk to with council,” Mr Griffin said.
The Cloncurry Shire Council owns the airport.
Mr Griffin had discussed the subject informally with State MP Rob Katter during the festivities celebrating Cloncurry’s 150th year since foundation. He endorsed the State Member’s stance in parliament pushing for inquiries into airfares and did not believe the government was doing enough to help.
“The Parliament work he has done is motivating me to keep going,” Mr Griffin said. “The Flying Doctor started in Cloncurry, the destination of the first Qantas flight.
“Sir Hudson Fysh (Qantas founder) would be turning in his grave if he knew what Qantas was doing to people of the north west.”
Cloncurry mayor Greg Campbell confirmed “informal chats” with Mr Griffin had happened. “While we have got to maintain the support for the services we currently have I am happy to look at any options, especially to make Cloncurry more accessible and more affordable for that accessibility to other parts of the country.”
The difference in landing fees between commercial airlines and charters fares was mainly to prevent Fly In, Fly Out workers, Cr Campbell said.
Yet he saw a difference between flights for FIFO workers and for local residents.
“If it is a charter flight for FIFO workers, that would be viewed potentially one way and if a flight to drive affordability for community members is there for a different reason,” Cr Campbell said.
Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter said he was “most anxious” to speak with Mr Griffin about his proposal.
“He is not kidding. It can be done as long as they have got a guarantee of uplift,” Mr Katter said, referring to the consistency of ticket sales.
“I think he or other people can do this.
“We have got to be able to provide a guarantee of uplift. I don’t know if that can be done unless Mount Isa Mines or the state government can pay.”
Mr Katter said before boarding a plane there were other ways of guaranteeing reliable ticket sales and this was relying on individuals.
“Someone like myself can guarantee 10 or 20 flights a year. Rob could guarantee...but we are anxious to get in touch with him (Mr Griffin).”
It was at this point that Mr Katter was urged by airport staff to turn his phone off. The Federal Member was keen to speak further on the issue.