Source : Perth Now news
A former Qantas executive has expressed disappointment at the airline’s decision to close a regional base, saying local staff are crucial for tourism and flight reliability.
QantasLink, the airline’s regional arm, has announced its bases in Canberra, Hobart and Mildura will shut from April, with 71 flight and cabin crew affected.
The company said the closures would improve reliability by making more staff available at major airports to respond to flight disruptions.
But unions, councils and some regional transport groups have raised concerns about the potential flow-on effects, while a Senate inquiry continues to examine the viability of aviation in regional Australia.
Tourism Tasmania’s Steve Farquer, who established the Hobart base when he was a general manager at Qantas, said the airline was entitled to make business decisions but the closure would have ramifications.
“The impact for a number of Tasmanians who have chosen to live in Hobart, who have brought their families to Hobart and established a life in Hobart – schools, education, health – it’s a significant issue for them,” Mr Farquer told the inquiry sitting in Wynyard, in the state’s north-west.
The logistics of the Hobart base were complicated, but central for the operation of flights to other capitals and regions, he said.
“The passion of the crew base, their commitment in advocating for Tasmania, what they deliver in terms of customer service and supporting our brand proposition, and that connectivity with our regular customers has been very, very crucial,” Mr Farquer said.
The Senate committee released an interim report into the QantasLink closures on Wednesday afternoon, finding the move was poorly managed and had devastated both staff and regional communities.
In response, Qantas said all staff at the bases had been offered roles in other locations, “which most have taken up”.
“We put in place a comprehensive support package for impacted team members because we know the decision to close the crew bases has been difficult for our people,” a spokesperson said.
“This support package is well beyond any requirements as part of their agreement and enables them to commute for work, like many other team members already do.”
Qantas continued to invest in regional operations and would work with the committee, the spokesperson said.
Hobart Airport chief executive Norris Carter said he did not anticipate any change or disruption to flights in and out of the city.
The inquiry continues.
