Airnorth cancels flights across Northern Territory, citing pilot shortage
Updated
Regional airline Airnorth has cancelled flights across the Northern Territory, forcing frustrated passengers to drive hundreds of kilometres to make connecting flights out of Darwin.
The airline has issued an apology for the disruption, citing a lack of qualified pilots to operate its aircraft.
The Darwin-Gove Peninsula route is among those affected, with passengers receiving cancellation notices just hours before their scheduled departure.
"They've had an atrocious ability to arrive on time, [planes] just not showing up, it's been going on for the last six to 12 months," said Nhulunbuy resident David Suter, who had his flight from Darwin to Cairns via Gove cancelled on Sunday.
"It doesn't really help surety of business because people commute between Darwin and Gove."
Residents as far as Yakala, Namatjira and Kununurra, Western Australia have also reported being "caught out" by the cancellations.
Airnorth maintains the problem is part of a broader global shortage of pilots, and is working to fill its 11 vacant pilot positions.
From this year, foreign pilots will be allowed into Australia on two-year working visas as part of a push by the Federal Government to reduce shortages.
More cancellations, disruptions possible
The regional carrier said new pilots were required to undertake mandatory simulator and flight training before they were qualified to operate its aircraft.
"This process takes time, and we are currently spending in excess of half a million dollars on recruitment and training in order to continue to provide safe and reliable services for all our customers," the provider said in a statement.
"Whilst we have consolidated our schedule to reduce frequency on some routes over the next few months, there may be additional schedule changes and cancellations required due to pilot coverage."
Federal Member for Solomon, Luke Gosling, said those concerned about regional air services should make a submission to the Senate Inquiry into rural and regional affairs and transport.
"It's a national inquiry, but it's coming to Darwin because obviously we've been very keen to see how we can improve service delivery around the Territory and also to our near neighbours like Timor Leste," he said.
Topics: travel-and-tourism, business-economics-and-finance, industry, darwin-0800, nt
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