[Jarden S]

Philippine Tourism has expressed
its disappointment and surprise
at the decision of the country’s
flag carrier to axe flights from
Brisbane at the end of the month.
Consuelo Garcia Jones,
Australia and New Zealand
tourism attaché with the
Philippine department of tourism,
said the services may not have
been given sufficient time to bed
down.
Wholesaler All About Asia
echoed the comments.
“It’s a bit of a blow,” managing
director Robert Graham said.
Philippine Airlines announced
late last week it will axe the
Brisbane flights from October
31, only seven months after
launching the services, following
poor sales. Melbourne flights will
also be reduced from five to three
per week.
“It is disappointing. I don’t
feel they have given it enough
time but at the end of the day
it is a commercial decision for
Philippine Airlines,” Jones said.
But with increasing numbers
of wholesalers featuring the
Philippines, she added the
momentum building for the
destination should continue.
Graham estimated that 20%
of its Philippine sales were ex-
Brisbane with customers now
forced to travel via Sydney on the
carrier.
“We have been out there
marketing the Brisbane flights
and distributed flyers and
were starting to get a flow of
bookings,” he told Travel Today.
“It is disappointing. I don’t know
anyone who thinks the flights
have been given enough time.”

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