- 10 February 2010 |
- Register |
- Login |
- More ways to get your news
Jetstar axing impacts region | Northern Rivers News | Local News in Northern Rivers
Jetstar axing impacts region
Harry Aristou, from Cafe Horizon at the Ballina-Byron Gateway Airport, is concerned the axing of Jetstar’s Ballina to Melbourne route will impact on jobs.
THE decision by Jetstar to axe Ballina to Melbourne flights from August 1 is set to affect more than just local jet-setters.
Harry Aristou, manager of Cafe Horizon at the Ballina-Byron Gateway Airport, said his cafe did a great trade before the Ballina to Melbourne flight left.
“This is the busiest flight out of Ballina, and the people flying to Melbourne seem to spend more,” he said.
“Maybe it's just because it's a longer flight, but they always love my coffee and love my food and they stop to have a bite to eat.”
Because business will drop due to the axed flights, Mr Aristou said his staff were likely to lose some of their work hours.
“I have talked to local business owners, and because the people coming here from Melbourne for holidays tend to spend, the whole community will lose out,” he said.
Mr Aristou has had 30 years in the airline industry, including working on flight occupancy rates for Ansett, and said he didn't know why Jetstar would cancel such a busy flight. “I have talked to the people behind the desk who do bookings and customer service for Jetstar, and they said the Ballina to Melbourne flight has an occupancy rate of 95 per cent,” he said.
“From my experience in the airline industry, an occupancy of 68 per cent is good, and any route that gives an occupancy rate of 95 per cent should be treated with respect.”
In the meantime, Mr Aristou hopes 'someone smart can convince them' not to cancel the route next month.
“I don't know what's behind it, but I wish someone would tell me,” he said.
More Stories
Latest stories from our news sites
Northern Rivers Weather
-
Today
Possible shower
19°C/29°C -
Tomorrow
Mostly cloudy
19°C/30°C
Things To Do
-
Maclean Highland Gathering (Scottish Festival)
Come to Maclean and experience a piece of Scotland in Australia. Saturday, 27 Mar, 2010 – 9am Maclean View event details » -
The Big Joke Bangalow Comedy Festival
Bangalow's fourth annual comedy fest held at the Bangalow A & I Hall. Thursday, 18 Mar, 2010 – 9am Bangalow View event details » -
Nimbin Mardi Grass
Nimbin Mardi Grass held all over Nimbin. Saturday, 1 May, 2010 – 9am Nimbin View event details » -
The Bangalow Billycart Derby
The Bangalow Billycart Derby held on Byron Street. Sunday, 16 May, 2010 – 8am Bangalow View event details » -
Country Energy Casino Beef Week
Country Energy Casino Beef Week held all over Casino. Saturday, 22 May, 2010 – 9am Casino View event details »
Most Popular
- Public housing ‘will be ghettos’
- Thousands spent to find child
- Intruder nabbed in pink undies
- $70,000 fine for illegal dumping
- Wet weather closes roads
- Ten GPs failed to find cancer
- Authorities 'hold back research'
- Social hub’s antisocial hours
- Green means ‘go recycle’, Casino
- Pregnant woman rescued
Aquarius
21 January - 19 February
In your greater efforts to save money and not be quite so frivolous in the coming weeks you might start to begrudge the fact that you don't have as good a lifestyle... More Horoscopes »
Select your zodiac sign
Aries | Taurus | Gemini | Cancer | Leo | Virgo | Libra | Scorpio | Sagittarius | Capricorn | Aquarius | Pisces
Recent Comments
Add a Comment »
Posted by kabc123 from Ballina, New South Wales
21 July 2009 10:07 a.m. | Suggest removal » | Post reply »
The jetstar melbourne flight to ballina should not be cancelled, if anything it could maybe be reduced a certain number of days per week. The impact of this will be felt accross the whole community. The whole community should come together to try and get answers and try to concince them to keep flying in here.
Posted by johnhol from Ballina, New South Wales
21 July 2009 12:14 p.m. | Suggest removal » | Post reply »
When are the other airlines eg Tiger and Virgin going to be approached to fly this route
Posted by godoyasa from Ballina, New South Wales
21 July 2009 5:39 p.m. | Suggest removal » | Post reply »
JETSTAR - PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE BALLINA MELBOURNE FLIGHT, I recently migrated from Melbourne to Ballina, and was very happy to know that I had a flight from Ballina to Melbourne whenever I needed it . Since my arrival in late April 2009, we have used this flight at least 20 times, and many of our friends and family were looking forward to travelling to Ballina/Byron whenever they could.
I do not understand why jetstar is removing this flight as it has always been a full flight from Melbourne to Ballina, or vise versa.
Jetstar should not cancel the flights instead just reduce them to less a week...