Unprofitable services has Qantas’ low-cost offshoot, Jetstar reconsidering its operations to Melbourne’s second airport, Avalon.
Jetstar has been operating domestic flights from the city’s second busiest airport since 2004. Today, the budget carrier is the only passenger airline flying from the gateway.
Now with its lease set to expire on 30 April, Avalon’s chief executive, Justin Giddings said the airline is considering terminating services to the airport, which could have serious impacts on the surrounding Geelong community.
Jetstar is reconsidering its services to Melbourne’s second airport.
Currently in talks with the government and airport officials, Mr Giddings said the gateways has one month to convince Jetstar to stay or risk hundreds of jobs, News.com.au reported.
“It’s hard to know, but I’d say 200-300 jobs could be affected.”
Justin Giddings, Avalon Airport CEO
However, don’t expect the airport to sit there sulking, he said if Jetstar doesn’t renew its lease, they’d look at ‘enticing’ another carrier.
This could be Tiger Airways, which ceased operations to the gateway four years ago.
Tiger could look at filling the void at Avalon Airport.
Tiger is yet to deny or confirm plans to return to Avalon, saying: “the nature of these discussions [network plans] is confidential and there is nothing to confirm at this time”.
Meanwhile, a Jetstar spokesperson said that even if the airline did decide to terminate services to Avalon, it would look after around 60 people.
Employees would have the choice to transfer or accept a redundancy package.
“While no decision has been made, if our services were to cease at Avalon, employees would be offered a job at Tullamarine or other parts of our network.”
Jetstar spokesperson