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.

CATHY ADAMS

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.