ANOTHER airline has announced a rise in ticket prices blaming inflation and the rising cost of fuel.
Regional Express (Rex) announced it was adding $10 to its King Island fares.
It follows a decision by Sharp Airlines to increase airfares by six per cent.
Sharp Airlines has also announced it is returning to its core winter schedule from May 2. A Rex spokesperson said while King Island fares would increase by about $10 across the fare range there would be no increase to the current Rex Community Fare (CF) levels.
“The Melbourne to King Island Community Fare will remain unchanged at $109,” the spokesperson said.
The discounted Community Fare was introduced by REX in 2019 for early-bird sales up to 30 days prior to departure subject to Community Fare availability, and for last minute purchases within 24 hours before departure time, all remaining unsold seats are released at the Community Fare level.
Community Fares are strictly subject to availability during the advance purchase period and may sell out.
REX said that these fares were highly popular, and recommended booking as early as possible to secure a Community Fare.
There are also conditions attached to these discounted fares.
Two weeks ago Sharp Airlines announced a six per cent airfare price increase across their network which includes flights inbound and outbound from King Island.
The airline said the increase was necessary due to the increases in global aircraft fuel prices.
The company said that fuel was 20% of their operating costs, however the increase is applied across the total fare.
This includes the State Government underwritten Hobart to King Island route which was designed to encourage travel from Southern Tasmania to the island and boost the island’s tourism sector impacted by the State border closures.
The underwriting agreement with Sharp was extended and a State Government travel incentivisation package for the island due to the Covid Public Health warning issued early in 2022 was formulated.
The Sharp Airlines increase does not appear to be applied to the Tasmanian State Government underwritten ‘Red Hot’ $300 deal of limited seats on three weekly flights Hobart King Island return which commenced 14 February for bookings 1 May to the end of July 2022.
On 31 March, Sharp Airlines announced a return to their core winter schedule from 02-May-2022 and King Island tourism operators do not know how this will affect general tourism boo