Speaking with sister publication Travel Daily about calls by Qantas and VA to shed regional capacity in the face of rising jet fuel costs, Triggs (pictured) said that while Journey Beyond is yet to feel the pinch of the cuts, the ongoing erosion in flights to key gateways like Hamilton Island and Darwin are “hard to ignore and even harder not to worry about”.
“These routes are the lifeblood of experiences like Cruise Whitsundays, The Ghan and Outback Spirit touring in the Northern Territory,” Triggs said.
“When flights are frequent, affordable and reliable, people travel, but when they’re not, demand softens, and regional businesses feel it first.”
Triggs added that continued capacity cuts and rising airfares risk slowing tourism recovery when momentum is needed the most, making it harder for operators to stay viable and for communities to bounce back.
“This is especially true for destinations like Learmonth/Exmouth, where strong airline support is critical as the region rebuilds tourism following Cyclone Narelle,” she said.
