Cairns to Bali flights to be suspended amid spate of domestic flight cancellations

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Locals with a Bali holiday booked this spring have had their plans upended, as Jetstar suspends its Cairns to Denpasar service for three months.

The service – which recommenced in May after more than two years – will be paused from September.

Travellers will detour through Darwin or Sydney, adding hours to their transit.

“Due to a range of reasons, including lower demand, we’ve suspended our Cairns to Bali service between September and November,” a Jetstar spokesperson said.

“Customers who are impacted by the suspension will be contacted directly and offered a range of options, including a refund or the option to travel to Bali via Darwin or Sydney.

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“Four weekly services will resume between Cairns and Bali from 1 December.”

The spokesperson declined Tropic Now’s questions about whether other services would be suspended or reduced.

Contrary to the airline’s response, Cairns Airport CEO Richard Barker said there had been demand for the service, which started off with two weekly flights and increased to three in June.

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“We have been advised by Jetstar that impacted customers have been re-accommodated to fly on the same day via other routes, and will be offered a range of options, including a refund,” he said.

The decision comes just days before the budget airline is scheduled to relaunch Cairns to Japan flights.

“Jetstar are scheduled to recommence direct Tokyo to Cairns flights next week, which is a significant milestone in our international travel recovery,” Mr Barker said.

“Four flights are set to travel between Narita International Airport (Tokyo) and Cairns each week.

“A further four flights between Kansai International Airport (Osaka) and Cairns are due to begin operating later in July.”

Huge delays hit domestic travellers

Meanwhile, a string of domestic flight cancellations has swept over the country, with regional centres like Cairns at the mercy of very few – and often expensive – alternative options.

Cairns Airport was impacted by 11 flight cancellations over the recent school holiday period.

Greta Stanley, a Cairns singer/songwriter, has had to cough up thousands of dollars for replacement flights to make the first show of her national tour.

She and her three band members’ Virgin flight from Cairns to Brisbane on 7 July was cancelled the night before their morning departure.

“I was told I could have a flight credit or a refund that would process in 90 days, however this wasn’t much help given the original flights were approximately $200-250 one way and the only flights available were $900-1000 one way,” she said.

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“Even when we considered this option, they went back on it saying it was no longer possible.

“We were unable to find any flights out of Cairns that would get us to Brisbane in time for our first show, or even to miss that one and make it in time for our Gold Coast show.

“We ended up driving to and booking a flight out of Townsville.

Greta told Tropic Now that the new one-way flight from Townsville to Brisbane totalled approximately $4,000 for four band members.

“Even if the Brisbane show sold out, I would not make that kind of income back,” she said.

“Once in Townsville, our new (Qantas) flight was delayed another two hours.

“We ended up arriving to our show at 7pm when doors were opening, straight from the airport.

“The music industry has always been a hard one to crack, but even harder since COVID.

“Being a regional artist will always have its challenges too, and I’m aware it costs a little more for flights and travel.

“But I’ve never experienced this level of expense and lack of alternatives.

“It makes any touring for the future feel almost impossible as it’s not financially viable.”

Greta Stanley plays at Wollongong tonight for the fourth show in her Real Shows in Real Life tour.

After travelling to Sydney, Newcastle, Melbourne and Townsville, the tour finishes up in Cairns at the Tanks on 6 August.