Last month, Qantas requested to operate an extra weekly service from 29 Mar, however, in response, Solomon Airlines (IE) argued the Aussie carrier’s move was an attempt to drive competition from the route.
“Given the state of the current market and its likely position in the short- to medium-term, the additional service would appear to be a cynical attempt to dump capacity on a struggling route in order to ultimately reduce competition by driving out the only other player,” IE claimed.
The carrier also suggested that if it was driven out of profitable int’l routes, it would have “serious implications” for its domestic network, which runs at a loss and is subsidised by the success of its overseas services.
“Domestic services operate across 23 ports and provide a much needed link for the people to travel within the far flung network of islands, however due to the great distances, the small number of people who fly…don’t mount a viable operation.”
Qantas declined to comment when contacted by Travel Daily.
