Hedland-to-Brisbane route cut

Qantas will stop its Port Hedland-to-Brisbane flights due to low demand, just four months after launching the service.

In a statement to Business News on Wednesday, Qantas confirmed the once-weekly service would cease on March 26 in a move described by Town of Port Hedland Mayor Peter Carter as “disingenuous”.

A Qantas spokesperson said it had hoped the route, launched in November last year, would prove popular with fly-in, fly-out passengers from the east coast.

“We saw genuine growth potential on the Brisbane-Port Headland route, but unfortunately we haven’t seen it materialise so it’s not viable to continue to operate beyond March,” they said.

“As our fleet renewal program takes shape with newer more economical aircraft, we will continue to review the route.”

The trial was underpinned by a deal whereby the Town of Port Hedland would make payments through a profit-sharing system with Port Hedland International Airport while the route was in service

Mr Carter said Qantas’ flight prices, not passenger numbers, were to blame for the route’s failure.

“It seems a bit disingenuous for Qantas to blame a lack of passenger numbers when the ticket prices were so high and out of reach for many individuals and families given the current cost-of-living pressures,” he said.

“In real terms, no ratepayer money has been used in the current arrangement to incentivise the return of the Brisbane route.

“However, it is still incredibly disappointing that Qantas has decided to pull the pin on this service so quickly.”

Direct flights between Brisbane and Hedland on March 12 start from $940 one way for economy and $2,762 for business.

Indirect flights via Perth start from $755.

The news comes after Business News on Tuesday revealed PHIA was yet to sign on a carrier for a Hedland-to-Bali service two months after it had initially been pencilled in to start.

Discussions are being held with several domestic and international airlines to resume the service, which was run by Virgin prior to COVID-19.

“This is a long process and clearly there are a lot of approvals needed from the federal government around safety and security, but we remain hopeful once a carrier is confirmed we will be able to move forward,” Mr Carter said.

“Flights to Bali are clearly something our community desires.”

Qantas would not confirm whether Exmouth to Melbourne flights would resume as a result of the decision.

That service was cut by the national carrier at the same time it launched the Hedland to Brisbane service due to what Qantas described as a shortage of pilots.