Rex Airlines has suspended two regional flights to Sydney, blaming higher fuel costs and low demand for its decision.
Flights from Port Macquarie and Orange to Sydney will be temporarily be suspended from October 25, with no date on when they will resume.
The airline cited ongoing high aviation fuel prices from the Middle East conflict and insufficient passenger demand that made the routes commercially unviable.
“The environment of entrenched high fuel prices driven by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, together with lack of demand, do not make these routes commercially viable at this time,” a Rex spokesman said.
“This decision is part of the optimisation of Rex’s schedule with the ongoing situation in the Middle East affecting all airlines globally.
“Both destinations continue to be served by another carrier.”
Nationals MP Alison Penfold said it was incredibly disappointing to see another regional air service disappear, leaving passengers with fewer choices and potentially higher airfares.
She wrote to QantasLink to seek assurance that it would not take advantage of its monopoly on Port Macquarie passenger flights by increasing its fares because there was no longer an alternative.
“My concern is that less competition will mean higher fares for local passengers,” Ms Penfold said.
“I sincerely hope we see Rex return to Port Macquarie sooner rather than later.
“Every time we lose another regional service, our communities become a little more isolated and our local economy loses another opportunity,” she said.
Rex will contact affected customers that booked travel on or after October 25 to offer them a full refund or option to book an alternative Rex service at no additional cost.
A spokesman for the airline said they would consider lifting the suspension once fuel prices decreased and it was commercially viable to resume flights.