While a ceasefire has been called in the increasingly bitter war of words between King Island Mayor Marcus Blackie and Rex, some tourism operators and councillors have backed the airline.
After Mr Blackie accused the airline of price-gouging Rex threatened to drop island services and to ban Mr Blackie from their planes. They came out swinging, claiming Mr Blackie was grandstanding. They also attacked the mayor personally and revealed that he had taken 25 Rex flights in two years, paying an average of $151 per ticket.
Rex said the high weekend fare quoted involved two flight legs travelling via Melbourne as the airline does not have a direct King Island Burnie or vice versa on the weekend and was not the scheduled weekday Rex commuter airfare.
Meanwhile, some councillors, King Island Tourism, the Chamber of Commerce and other organisations and businesses have expressed concerns over the mayor’s comments.
They are unhappy that there was no consultation with operators around Rex’s airfares before the Mayor made media comments.
Many residents and visitors find the airfares cost prohibitive, however, not all agree with the Mr Blackie’s statements and support Rex; others have memories of the effort needed to ensure Rex continued flying to King Island after past conflicts.
King Island Tourism president Adam Hely backed Rex in a letter thanking them for their 20 years’ service to King Island and said that the comments made by other parties attacking the airline’s pricing “were made without research, understanding or consultation”.
Mr Hely also said that the island’s tourism businesses “would cease without the support of Rex and other smaller airlines”.
“Interstate and international golfers often choose to come in through Melbourne Airport and prefer the larger SAAB plane,” he said.
Mr Blackie now feels a “cooling-off” period between the parties is needed.
In a statement, which astounded not only the mayor but the mainland media, Rex called on the council to censure the mayor for his remarks, which they deemed flippant and damaging to the local economy.
They threatened to no longer welcome Mr Blackie on their services if official action was not taken and a further threat was the cessation of Rex air services to King Island.
The airline stated that they were reviewing their services to King Island, noting that flights were only 62 per cent full.
They criticised what they described as “unsophisticated travellers” for being shocked by high fares on days when the airline didn’t have direct flights to the island.
Rex defended its pricing, stating that the average flight between King Island and Burnie, Tasmania, was a modest $185. They also attacked the mayor personally and revealed that Mr Blackie had taken 25 Rex flights in two years, paying an average of $151 per ticket. This situation is not the first time Rex has clashed with King Island.
In 2018, a modest increase in fees at the King Island Council-owned airport led Rex to announce that they would no longer continue services to the island. This recent dispute with Mr Blackie has reignited tensions between the airline and the council.
The mayor’s remarks were in response to a resident’s social media posts around the exorbitant cost of Rex airfares between King Island and Burnie which were over $1,000 one way. An online search showed the $1,000-plus one-way airfare was on a weekend when a direct flight is not offered.
However $750 -$850 return airfares are displayed by the online booking engine on other weekdays. These are also flights via Melbourne.
A passenger can see this when the King Island Burnie and visa versa flight time is anywhere between four and seven hours not around 45 minutes. Despite the heated exchange, Mr Blackie said he hopes to work constructively with Rex to resolve the issue and ensure continued services to the island.
“I have adopted a cooling off period to deescalate current tensions,” Mr Blackie said.
“I want to reassure you, that I will then work constructively to restore and reset the relationship with Rex moving forward.
“My door is always open, we genuinely seek good reciprocal working relations with Rex and all industries servicing King Island.
“As your elected mayor it is my foremost sacred duty to represent our community and advocate on your behalf.
“I therefore will not shy away from this, along with the necessary resolve and moral courage required.”