Ms LAWRIE - 2004-03-31
We are starting to see signs that the tourism industry is rebounding following the collapse of Ansett, SARS, 11 September and the Bali bombings. Could you tell the House about the increase in aviation activity and capacity into the Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it has been tough over the last 2 years. However, our aviation capacity, which means seats on aeroplanes into the Territory, is increasing in real terms. This is real success for Territorians and for tourism.
It is looking good. Allow me to go through some of the areas. Domestic capacity into Darwin for March is 7% higher than at the same time last year. We are talking real terms. That capacity is set to grow with Virgin Blue, in April, commencing three services per week, direct Melbourne to Darwin, which means an additional 432 new seats to Darwin each week from Melbourne. It will expand the services of Virgin Blue into the Territory.
Added to that new service from Virgin, next Monday, 5 April, Skywest will be coming into the Territory. This is a really significant innovation. Skywest will be commencing services from Perth to Darwin via Broome on Mondays and Wednesdays, and is set to expand to Fridays in May. That will mean 194 more seats from Perth into the Territory, and we welcome Skywest. That additional service in May will provide another 97 seats into the Territory.
From Qantas’ point of view, Regional General Manager, Steve Farquer tells me that for the last six months in Darwin, Qantas has had 10% or higher growth each month compared to the same time the previous year. They are real increases. That is terrific. In terms of forward bookings, Qantas are very positive over the next six months. That is good news for Darwin.
Now let us look at Alice Springs and Ayers Rock. Domestic capacity into Alice Springs is 20% higher than for the same time last year, which is great. That is largely due to Virgin Blue services, direct Sydney to Alice Springs, which started with quite a display in June last year. On a slight downside, the domestic capacity to Ayers Rock is 10% lower than the same time last year, but that should pick up in June this year with Qantas starting three flights per week direct service between Melbourne and the Rock. That is the first time that Qantas has flown direct from Melbourne into Yulara.
Internationally, not only were we hit in September 2001 by the collapse of Ansett, but we were hit by international events, as we know. While it is important to have that direct capacity into Darwin, we also have to remember that 80% of international visitors to the Territory come through Sydney airport, so it is very important to have those good domestic connections. International capacity into Darwin is currently 7% higher than at the same time last year. This is a combination of the third weekly Royal Brunei service which started in October last year, and the extra Qantas service to Denpasar which started in April last year.
The big one for us is Australian Airlines in May is to begin their twice-weekly service from Cairns through to Darwin and Singapore. They will be operating a Boeing 767-300, which means an extra 540 seats into Darwin each week. Importantly for us, this means we will be able to fly to Singapore five times a week. That is something that we have struggled with over the last couple of years. It is terrific that Australian Airlines starts that service in May.
Overall for the Territory, we have a 6% increase in aviation capacity for March. It is great news, Madam Speaker.
We add to that another sign of confidence in the pick-up that is happening in growth in tourism, through the Northern Territory Airports. They are currently halfway through an $11.5m refurbishment program at Darwin Airport. That includes landscaping, refurbishment of the Qantas Club lounge, and refurbishment of the upper level of the terminal. That is the first stage of a $50m approximately refurbishment of the airport. Over the next four financial years, some of the works include major runway works and redoing the frontage of the airport terminal. Northern Territory Airports will be undertaking a five year review of their master plan for the Darwin International Airport and that will be released for public comment in May. That is a real vote of confidence by Northern Territory Airports in our future, and that is great news for Territorians. It is great news for our businesses and for tourism.
Members: Hear, hear!
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, it has been tough over the last 2 years. However, our aviation capacity, which means seats on aeroplanes into the Territory, is increasing in real terms. This is real success for Territorians and for tourism.
It is looking good. Allow me to go through some of the areas. Domestic capacity into Darwin for March is 7% higher than at the same time last year. We are talking real terms. That capacity is set to grow with Virgin Blue, in April, commencing three services per week, direct Melbourne to Darwin, which means an additional 432 new seats to Darwin each week from Melbourne. It will expand the services of Virgin Blue into the Territory.
Added to that new service from Virgin, next Monday, 5 April, Skywest will be coming into the Territory. This is a really significant innovation. Skywest will be commencing services from Perth to Darwin via Broome on Mondays and Wednesdays, and is set to expand to Fridays in May. That will mean 194 more seats from Perth into the Territory, and we welcome Skywest. That additional service in May will provide another 97 seats into the Territory.
From Qantas’ point of view, Regional General Manager, Steve Farquer tells me that for the last six months in Darwin, Qantas has had 10% or higher growth each month compared to the same time the previous year. They are real increases. That is terrific. In terms of forward bookings, Qantas are very positive over the next six months. That is good news for Darwin.
Now let us look at Alice Springs and Ayers Rock. Domestic capacity into Alice Springs is 20% higher than for the same time last year, which is great. That is largely due to Virgin Blue services, direct Sydney to Alice Springs, which started with quite a display in June last year. On a slight downside, the domestic capacity to Ayers Rock is 10% lower than the same time last year, but that should pick up in June this year with Qantas starting three flights per week direct service between Melbourne and the Rock. That is the first time that Qantas has flown direct from Melbourne into Yulara.
Internationally, not only were we hit in September 2001 by the collapse of Ansett, but we were hit by international events, as we know. While it is important to have that direct capacity into Darwin, we also have to remember that 80% of international visitors to the Territory come through Sydney airport, so it is very important to have those good domestic connections. International capacity into Darwin is currently 7% higher than at the same time last year. This is a combination of the third weekly Royal Brunei service which started in October last year, and the extra Qantas service to Denpasar which started in April last year.
The big one for us is Australian Airlines in May is to begin their twice-weekly service from Cairns through to Darwin and Singapore. They will be operating a Boeing 767-300, which means an extra 540 seats into Darwin each week. Importantly for us, this means we will be able to fly to Singapore five times a week. That is something that we have struggled with over the last couple of years. It is terrific that Australian Airlines starts that service in May.
Overall for the Territory, we have a 6% increase in aviation capacity for March. It is great news, Madam Speaker.
We add to that another sign of confidence in the pick-up that is happening in growth in tourism, through the Northern Territory Airports. They are currently halfway through an $11.5m refurbishment program at Darwin Airport. That includes landscaping, refurbishment of the Qantas Club lounge, and refurbishment of the upper level of the terminal. That is the first stage of a $50m approximately refurbishment of the airport. Over the next four financial years, some of the works include major runway works and redoing the frontage of the airport terminal. Northern Territory Airports will be undertaking a five year review of their master plan for the Darwin International Airport and that will be released for public comment in May. That is a real vote of confidence by Northern Territory Airports in our future, and that is great news for Territorians. It is great news for our businesses and for tourism.
Members: Hear, hear!
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016