QANTAS flights between Mildura and Melbourne will drop by nearly two-thirds as the airline grapples with the threat of COVID-19.
Mildura Airport chair Peter O’Donnell confirmed on Thursday only nine outgoing flights would travel to the state capital per week.
Mr O’Donnell said previously, more than 25 Qantas flights departed to Melbourne weekly.
“Two flights per day will leave Mildura on Thursdays and Fridays, and just one will leave per day for the other days of the week,” he said.
“They have cut it back to just nine flights per week.”
The airport was yet to confirm times of the outgoing flights and when these changes would come into effect.
“I suspect it will happen almost immediately,” Mr O’Donnell said.
“I would expect a few days grace.”
Qantas earlier on Thursday announced it would delay starting flights between Sydney and Mildura, a service that was due to start next Sunday.
The national carrier said it would suspend all international flights from late this month, as well as 60 per cent of domestic services.
Qantas had previously issued two reassurances that the Sydney-Mildura flights would start as planned.
Two-thirds of Qantas employees were being temporarily stood down in an effort to preserve as many jobs as possible longer term.
Mr O’Donnell said it was unlikely those cuts would affect Mildura-based workers.
“I don’t believe so, the Qantas workers here are from a contract company so it would be a decision for that contract company as to what they do here locally,” he said.
“I don’t expect any changes except if there are less flights, then they need to be here less.
“There will be changes but we are hopeful there won’t be any personnel changes and that everyone is able to maintain their position with the teams here as well.”
Mr O’Donnell said it was important the community was aware the airport was functioning as normal.
“We are fully operational at the airport and we don’t plan on making any changes in terms of the safety and security of our passengers, that will go unchanged,” he said.
“We are preparing plans today for a reduction in travel for sometime and we are preparing plans for when this is over as well.”
Virgin Australia said on Wednesday about 50 per cent of its domestic capacity would be cut until June 14.
Details of Virgin’s new schedule were to be published “over the next week”.
