Michael McCormack has criticised Qantas’ decision to ceases its services from the Riverina to Melbourne. Photo: File.
Qantas has announced it will be stopping all its flights from Wagga to Melbourne and from Albury to Melbourne, effective from Sunday 1 March.
A spokesperson said this was due to declining demand.
“Despite efforts to stimulate growth, demand for flights from Melbourne to Wagga Wagga has continued to decline, with many recent flights less than half full, and we’ve had to make the difficult decision to suspend services on the route,” the spokesperson said.
“We sincerely apologise to customers for any inconvenience caused. All impacted passengers have been contacted directly and offered options, including refunds or alternative same-day flights via our Sydney or Brisbane services.
“Demand for our Sydney and Brisbane services remains strong and there’s potential to add services to these routes in the future.”
The decision means Rex Airlines will be the only carrier to fly directly between Wagga or Albury to Melbourne.
All Qantas flights from the Riverina to Melbourne will be via Sydney from March and cost at least $400.
Federal MPs for Farrer and Riverina, Sussan Ley and Michael McCormack, released a joint statement condemning Qantas’ decision.
“We are deeply disappointed with today’s announcement by Qantas, which has made a business decision to suspend [these] services,” the statement said.
“We will be jointly writing to Qantas to express our concern about the axing of these routes, which will certainly have a detrimental impact on Wagga Wagga, Albury and the wider region we represent.
“This announcement is a clear reflection of the worsening economic conditions being felt by industries and households across the nation and particularly in the Riverina and Farrer electorates, with many people conducting their business virtually due to ever-tightening margins. Those who are travelling for recreational and health reasons are choosing cheaper options.”
The politicians said Qantas told them the routes were unsustainable, with the Wagga Wagga to Melbourne route operating with less than 50 per cent of its passenger capacity and the Albury to Melbourne route operating with less than 40 per cent of its passenger capacity.
“We have been assured that demand is strong for the Wagga Wagga to Sydney, Wagga Wagga to Brisbane, Albury to Sydney and Albury to Brisbane services and there is no indication these routes will be adversely affected by today’s announcement,” Ms Ley and Mr McCormack said.
An aviation paper released by the Federal Government in 2024 shows that airline services for regional areas such as the Riverina have declined rapidly.
The number of regional routes fell from 458 to 291 between 1989 and 2021 and the number of remote routes fell from 264 to 163 in the same period. Many routes are now serviced by only one airline.
The government has also launched an inquiry into the soaring costs of flying regionally.
Region has highlighted the rapid rise in the price of flying for those travelling from the Riverina, with return flights from Griffith to Sydney reaching $1309 in recent months. Direct airfares from Wagga to Sydney can be as high as $839.
East West Airlines ended its short-lived Griffith to Melbourne flights in 2022.
