Qantas, Jetstar domestic capacity cuts extended as fuel price stays high due to Middle East strife

Qantas and its budget arm Jetstar have extended capacity cuts by a further three months as fuel prices remain stubbornly high due to ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The group announced mid-April that it would reduce domestic flights in the June quarter by about 5 percentage points and on Friday said that would continue through to September. The temporary suspension of Jetstar’s Sydney to Busselton service remains set to resume in time for the school holidays starting September 26. The national carrier said it would continue to redeploy some aircraft to add more flights between Australia and Europe, responding to continued strong demand for travel to the northern continent. It said this would give Qantas customers already booked to travel on partner airlines the Flying Kangaroo option, should they wish to change. Qantas’ additional direct flights between Perth and Rome — now daily, up from four flights a week — have been extended by another three months until the end of October. But in total, there has been a further reduction in international capacity, including across the Tasman, which together with changes announced last month trim the group’s overseas flights for the September quarter by 2 percentage points. Affected customers are being contacted directly and offered alternative flights or a refund. Charter operations to WA’s all-important resources sector remain untouched. Virgin also changed flights and increased fares in response to higher fuel prices last month and says it continues to review “settings including capacity” for the coming financial year, given ongoing volatility. Meanwhile, the Chamber of Minerals and Energy applauded the Federal Government’s acquisition of an additional 50 million litres of jet fuel, safeguarding FIFO flights. “National stockpiles of jet fuel are smaller than diesel and petrol,” chief executive Aaron Morey said. “So today’s announcement is particularly significant and will make an important contribution to protecting the operating capability of mine sites across the State.”