As representatives of Mt Isa we are calling for urgent action on the price of airfares both in and out of Mt Isa to be “affordable”.

The north-west region gained the benefit of a choice of two major airlines with Virgin Australia announcing its new service between Mount Isa and Brisbane in August 2012. Research conducted by Mt Isa Mines with their people found the cost of airfares was one of the most critical obstacles to their staying in Mount Isa and with Virgin Australia now operating out of Mt Isa, people will be better able to plan for their holidays and events on their terms.  Virgin Australia stated they were proud to service the community of Mount Isa and that these new services would bring a range of benefits including more competitive pricing, enhanced flight connections and a higher quality overall travel experience. However the community saw no change in the pricing with Virgin Australia OR Qantas and believe flights are now even more expensive.

North West residents are demanding the airlines and airport to make the cost of airfares affordable and realistic so residents can visit their families and friends and vice versa, seek specialist treatment that is not available in the Outback, enjoy a holiday, and even see some rain! The prices charged by Qantas and Virgin are expensive and we believe these prices are not at all justified and we want action! PLEASE give us locals some relief.

We are currently an isolated mining town and further disconnected from the rest of Australia due to the ridiculously expensive price of flights.

Examples of current prices locals have had to pay recently:

• A ticket for my son from Mt Isa to Cairns return was $800.
• My sister wants to visit me for my 40th for the weekend and the cost to fly is $1,800.
• 2 adults, 2 children to fly from Mt Isa to Brisbane return $2,992 – we decided to drive to Townsville and fly from there (not with Qantas or Virgin) and saving ourselves over $2k.
• $677 from Mt Isa to Townsville one way.
• We never have great specials – lowest I have ever seen it is $250 one way and there are hardly any available when you go to book.
$930 Townsville to Bali return – flying from Mt Isa to Townsville $1000 extra.
• Can get to Hawaii for $600 return from Brisbane and more often than not it is nearly that much from Mt Isa to Brisbane one way.
• $284 return from Wellington to Brisbane – can’t even go one way from Mt Isa to Brisbane for under $250.
• My brother passed away unexpectedly and the last minute flights for 2 adults and 2 children to fly back home had me applying to the bank for a loan
• I can’t send my kids to see their Grandmother in NZ because the Qantas connecting flight from Auckland has been abolished and there are no other flights for the kids to be able to travel as accompanied minors.

We are being penalised for living in the outback!

• Qantas planes downgraded to smaller planes with numerous flights having no entertainment yet we pay exuberant fees!
• Having to take extra annual leave to travel anywhere as it is too expensive to fly.
• Long driving times which is extremely dangerous when starting a holiday and you are tired or having to travel due to a family emergency – fatigue, kangaroos on the road, cattle on the road (driving times: Mt Isa to Townsville drive 9 hours, 43 mins / Mt Isa to Cairns 13 hours, 43 minutes / Mt Isa to Brisbane 19 hours, 38 minutes / Mt Isa to Darwin 18 hours, 33 minutes)
• We want the chance to be able to visit our family and friends, take a break from the dust and see the ocean and even the rain.
• The ability to take our children on a break out of Mt Isa during school holidays without breaking the bank as there are limited activities in Mt Isa over the holidays and it’s too far for the carer to drive anywhere on their own with children if the partners is working.
• We want to be able to choose where we can access medical treatments needed that we do not have access to in Mt Isa.

AND let’s not forget the outback station folk who are doing it really tough! These station folk would love to go to Brisbane or on a trip with their families to get away from the hardships they are and have been going through and see the sea walk in the sea and forget about their problems for a while but can't with the current airfares.

Locals are forced to pay high fees for all items – rent, food, electricity (only one choice of a power company) etc so the wages need to be in line with the high prices of consumables in the town (works out equivalent to living in Brisbane on an average wage). However when living in Brisbane you do not have exuberant air fare prices. Most of the people living in Mt Isa are here purely because they have a job/work.

Please sign our petition to join our fight for affordable air fare prices - it would make the world of difference to those here living in an isolated and drought affected area.

#TheFightForFlightsInIsa

https://twitter.com/MTISA2015

Thank you.