Qantas Replaces Jetstar On Rockhampton Route

[Dave Parer]

Two more reports in this mornings Rocky newspaper. Rockhampton Council hits back at Jetstar and the direct flights from Melbourne by Tiger are uncertain.

http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au...-blame-prices/

http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au...rne-uncertain/

[Steve Grayson]

Again, not quite on subject but with regard to charges @ ROK I could not help but notice the quantity per square foot of Safety Cars.
In general, from the 3 hours I was there it appears that there are far too many Safety/Security staff/vehicles for the size of the airport..
Just my thoughts and as always I love to be corrected

[Jarden S]

Originally Posted by Kain C

Story in the Mercury Newspaper with a similar issue brewing as per ROK with JQ.

http://www.themercury.com.au/article...ania-news.html.

A proposed 50% increase is very steep in deed for HBA. It seems the non capital airports struggle to find enough income to pay for all their increasing operating expenses CNS has the same problem. The only way they find is to increase landing fees to compensate. When an airport gets privatised this is the usually the start of the problem as the new owner pays too much for the airport and needs to pay down the debt incurred as soon as possible.

[Jarden S]

Another point is, if they increase fees by 50% and the airlines said they will reduce some flights or seats on routes out of HBA or ROK the airports will see less passengers and less revenue from landing fees as they are calculated on a per passenger basis. Its a case of price elasticity if they lowered the fees with attract airlines to put on more flights so more passengers will pass through the airport creating greater revenue for the airport. Its a shame the bosses at the airport can't see this!

[Kain C]

If the airport wants 50% more money from JQ for landing fees, then wouldn't it be better for them to keep the charges the same and thus encourage JQ to operate up to 6 daily HBA-MEL (like they are in March) from say August/September once low season is over rather than the 4 that are currently scheduled? Throw in a daily HBA-BNE or HBA-OOL and there is your 50% more money from landing fees, but you will also get more from parking/trolleys etc as more people will be moving through the airport. With big attractions like the 3 capes walk and MONA opening soon in the south of the state, capacity to HBA will need to be increased anyway.

Are the landing charges per passenger or per available passenger?

[Kain C]

JQs network wide sale has HBA-MEL at $59 compared with LST-MEL at $35, maybe they anticipate a rise in fees, but that is a ridiculous difference. If it is that hard to fill seats to LST then surely they won't switch any more from HBA to LST!

Anyone know how the additional HBA-MEL flights are going. A lot of days seem to have a lot of low fares available, despite DJ having only the higher tier fares available for the same days.