Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
The big news over the last twenty four hours has
been the fact that budget airline bondser announced a temporary
suspension of services with a sudden mass cancelation of flights
across its network yesterday, including the Northern Territory, and conversations
are underway about the viability of the business. Industry inside
Is yesterday told three point sixty that leases over the
(00:21):
aircrafts were in jeopardy, with some aircraft already seized, some
saying that Virgin's going to take over the aircraft and
capitalize on some of the routes, but experts have warned
that it could leave thousands of Territorians and local travel
operators out of pocket, with a resumption of flights unlikely
until after a grounding of this scale.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Now.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Tourism operators in Central Australia were absolutely over the moon
when the airline began operations. Joining us on the line
to let us know how they're feeling today, Daniel Rochford,
the CEO of Tourism Central Australia, Good morning to you, Daniel, Good.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Morning Kadian, Good morning to your listeners.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Daniel, what are you hearing this morning when it comes
to Bonza? Are they likely to get going again.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Well, that's obviously in the hands of the administrators now
and they're advising passengers not to turn up to airports
until tomorrow. So you know that does I leave a
window open, But look, you know i'd have to say,
you know, based on the coverage that it has had
that you know will be hard to recover. And you know,
(01:31):
I don't feel very confident that we'll see the airline again,
but you know, who knows.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Daniel, how are you guys feeling in Central Australia following
yesterday's events. I know that you were so pumped when
BONSA got going.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Yeah, and look, it's a sad day for not only
our region but the whole of Regional Australia. That the
flu to this airline provided a ray of hope and
you know, as you know, we have had to deal
with the scourge of high airfares coming in and out
(02:05):
of Central Australia and the wider Norman territory and BONSA
was that ray of hope. And we certainly did back
bondser in terms of coming into Alice and the community
embraced them. You know, they had their issues up in Darwin,
but it was a completely different story. In Alice Springs,
we were seeing low factors of above eighty percent in
and out. What this now means to Central Australia is
(02:29):
as we launch into the tourism season twenty twenty four,
we now have we do not have thirty thousand seats
coming in and out of our region, which is disastrous
for our tourism industry and disastrous for our region.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
It truly is, like, I mean, it's a huge blow
I think to regional Australia generally. But then when you
look at Central Australia and look at what you guys
have been through in the recent years. Just talk us
through Daniel in terms of the flight capacity and those
seat numbers on a weekly basis, how like how many
seats are we talking here when it comes to those losses.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
So it's you know, it's one hundred and eighty seat aircraft.
They were flying twice a week, both in and out,
and that's where that thirty thousand figure comes from. So
you know, not not only from a tourism perspective, Codie,
but you know from a liveability perspective. You know, the feedback,
you know, I had this lovely lady come up to
me in the toad ball and say hey, I was
able to fly myself and my family to Melbourne one
(03:29):
way for five hundred dollars and you know that was
the price of just a one way ticket for one
person previously. So you know, bondser was providing a solution.
And if there was any positive that came out of
comes out of this, it shows that there is demand
in regional communities and wherever bonds are flu proved this
(03:52):
of people wanting to fly, you know, and be able
to get out in and out of their communities.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
You spot all lo this is the thing. It's not
only it was not only a great thing you know
for locals, but or for tourists, but also for locals. Daniel,
talk us through though what this is going to mean
for those tourism operators in Central Australia.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Well, we're alway seeing cancelations, we're seeing impact to our
local events coming up. You know this. You know we
were in a fragile position even before this, Katie. As
we've talked about in recent days, this just is absolute
kicking the guts to our industry and I echo our
call to the Northern Territory government and to the federal government,
(04:36):
but the tourism industry of Central Australia needs urgent economic
recovery support. This is above and beyond about your program
or a discount program. This needs absolute the kitchen sink
thrown at it and I call on the territory in
federal government to support Central Australia at this difficult time.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Daniel, you had the Prime Minister the earlier in the week.
Did he meet with you, did he meet with tourism operators?
Did you get the opportunity to send him that message?
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Absolutely, Katie. He met three of our operators, a retailer,
a tour operator and a caravan park owner who said anywhere,
but who gave them their story of their business. One
business was down thirty percent on last year, which was
a disastrous year by the way, one business was down
(05:29):
fifty percent and another business was down seventy five percent. Wow,
that's the reality that we're facing at the moment. And
you know, our businesses normally through the tourism season, they
charged their piggybanks up to be able to see them
through the winter the summer months. I fear that that's
not going to be able to and we're going to
see lots of businesses and that's going to have a
(05:51):
massive hit to our regional economy, in the Northern Territory economy.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
So, Daniel, just like in terms of those discussions, like,
was there any is there any indication at this point
in time from the federal government from the territory government
that there's going to be more than just sort of
about just scheme or all these you know crumb instead
of being thrown.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
We've had very positive words and you know there's active discussions,
but you know, our industry is crying out for our
governments to come to the to come and make those
announcements sooner rather than later. Those the importance of those
announcements are critical for just being able to see our
(06:35):
industry through this a few weeks. You know, the morale
is rock bottom, and you know, we are seeing examples
of businesses showing me their profit and loss statements that
are saying that they're in a worse position now than
that what they were during COVID. That's the gravity of
the situation.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
Yeah, it is huge, and it's and it's a horrible
situation for all of those operators to be in. Daniel,
Before I let you go, just back to bonds for
a moment. What days does bonds a fly in and
out of Alice Springs? And have you had much wood
from you know from locals set to fly out? What's
happening with them? Do you know of Virgin or any
(07:14):
of the other airlines are picking up their routes at
this point?
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Yeah, they fly on Tuesday and Saturday. I have just
got win and I haven't seen it in writing yet, Katie,
but if I do, I'll make sure I can turn
that with you. But I understand Corners has made a
call of honoring bonds of tickets, not just for stranded passengers,
but for those with advanced tickets. So once I have
(07:40):
those details to hand, i'll make sure you're aware of that.
But I don't want to build up too much expectation.
But if that's If that's the case, I certainly encourage
those affected bonds of passengers to take advantage of that.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
One hundred percent.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Will allow people to come in and out absolutely well.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Let us know how they go, Daniel, and please do
keep in contact with us. Will be more than happy
to let listeners know. Mate. Thanks so much for you
chat this morning. I know it like I can't imagine
how you guys are feeling at the moment. It's a
real roller coaster in Alice Springs. You sort of have
a couple of days where things seem as though they're
on the up. You have the Prime Minister visit, then
you get a kick in the guts the next day
(08:18):
with Bonza some you know a lot. It has to
get better at some point.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Absolutely, And look, you know we're representing the people who
don't get paid a paycheck every fortnight. These are the
people who are just having to live based on the
income they make. And you know it is as tough
as tough come back.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
Yeah, Daniel Rochford, thank you. As always, I appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
Thanks Katie, thank you,
The big news over the last twenty four hours has
been the fact that budget airline bondser announced a temporary
suspension of services with a sudden mass cancelation of flights
across its network yesterday, including the Northern Territory, and conversations
are underway about the viability of the business. Industry inside
Is yesterday told three point sixty that leases over the
(00:21):
aircrafts were in jeopardy, with some aircraft already seized, some
saying that Virgin's going to take over the aircraft and
capitalize on some of the routes, but experts have warned
that it could leave thousands of Territorians and local travel
operators out of pocket, with a resumption of flights unlikely
until after a grounding of this scale.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Now.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Tourism operators in Central Australia were absolutely over the moon
when the airline began operations. Joining us on the line
to let us know how they're feeling today, Daniel Rochford,
the CEO of Tourism Central Australia, Good morning to you, Daniel, Good.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Morning Kadian, Good morning to your listeners.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Daniel, what are you hearing this morning when it comes
to Bonza? Are they likely to get going again.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Well, that's obviously in the hands of the administrators now
and they're advising passengers not to turn up to airports
until tomorrow. So you know that does I leave a
window open, But look, you know i'd have to say,
you know, based on the coverage that it has had
that you know will be hard to recover. And you know,
(01:31):
I don't feel very confident that we'll see the airline again,
but you know, who knows.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Daniel, how are you guys feeling in Central Australia following
yesterday's events. I know that you were so pumped when
BONSA got going.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Yeah, and look, it's a sad day for not only
our region but the whole of Regional Australia. That the
flu to this airline provided a ray of hope and
you know, as you know, we have had to deal
with the scourge of high airfares coming in and out
(02:05):
of Central Australia and the wider Norman territory and BONSA
was that ray of hope. And we certainly did back
bondser in terms of coming into Alice and the community
embraced them. You know, they had their issues up in Darwin,
but it was a completely different story. In Alice Springs,
we were seeing low factors of above eighty percent in
and out. What this now means to Central Australia is
(02:29):
as we launch into the tourism season twenty twenty four,
we now have we do not have thirty thousand seats
coming in and out of our region, which is disastrous
for our tourism industry and disastrous for our region.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
It truly is, like, I mean, it's a huge blow
I think to regional Australia generally. But then when you
look at Central Australia and look at what you guys
have been through in the recent years. Just talk us
through Daniel in terms of the flight capacity and those
seat numbers on a weekly basis, how like how many
seats are we talking here when it comes to those losses.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
So it's you know, it's one hundred and eighty seat aircraft.
They were flying twice a week, both in and out,
and that's where that thirty thousand figure comes from. So
you know, not not only from a tourism perspective, Codie,
but you know from a liveability perspective. You know, the feedback,
you know, I had this lovely lady come up to
me in the toad ball and say hey, I was
able to fly myself and my family to Melbourne one
(03:29):
way for five hundred dollars and you know that was
the price of just a one way ticket for one
person previously. So you know, bondser was providing a solution.
And if there was any positive that came out of
comes out of this, it shows that there is demand
in regional communities and wherever bonds are flu proved this
(03:52):
of people wanting to fly, you know, and be able
to get out in and out of their communities.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
You spot all lo this is the thing. It's not
only it was not only a great thing you know
for locals, but or for tourists, but also for locals. Daniel,
talk us through though what this is going to mean
for those tourism operators in Central Australia.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Well, we're alway seeing cancelations, we're seeing impact to our
local events coming up. You know this. You know we
were in a fragile position even before this, Katie. As
we've talked about in recent days, this just is absolute
kicking the guts to our industry and I echo our
call to the Northern Territory government and to the federal government,
(04:36):
but the tourism industry of Central Australia needs urgent economic
recovery support. This is above and beyond about your program
or a discount program. This needs absolute the kitchen sink
thrown at it and I call on the territory in
federal government to support Central Australia at this difficult time.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Daniel, you had the Prime Minister the earlier in the week.
Did he meet with you, did he meet with tourism operators?
Did you get the opportunity to send him that message?
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Absolutely, Katie. He met three of our operators, a retailer,
a tour operator and a caravan park owner who said anywhere,
but who gave them their story of their business. One
business was down thirty percent on last year, which was
a disastrous year by the way, one business was down
(05:29):
fifty percent and another business was down seventy five percent. Wow,
that's the reality that we're facing at the moment. And
you know, our businesses normally through the tourism season, they
charged their piggybanks up to be able to see them
through the winter the summer months. I fear that that's
not going to be able to and we're going to
see lots of businesses and that's going to have a
(05:51):
massive hit to our regional economy, in the Northern Territory economy.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
So, Daniel, just like in terms of those discussions, like,
was there any is there any indication at this point
in time from the federal government from the territory government
that there's going to be more than just sort of
about just scheme or all these you know crumb instead
of being thrown.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
We've had very positive words and you know there's active discussions,
but you know, our industry is crying out for our
governments to come to the to come and make those
announcements sooner rather than later. Those the importance of those
announcements are critical for just being able to see our
(06:35):
industry through this a few weeks. You know, the morale
is rock bottom, and you know, we are seeing examples
of businesses showing me their profit and loss statements that
are saying that they're in a worse position now than
that what they were during COVID. That's the gravity of
the situation.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
Yeah, it is huge, and it's and it's a horrible
situation for all of those operators to be in. Daniel,
Before I let you go, just back to bonds for
a moment. What days does bonds a fly in and
out of Alice Springs? And have you had much wood
from you know from locals set to fly out? What's
happening with them? Do you know of Virgin or any
(07:14):
of the other airlines are picking up their routes at
this point?
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Yeah, they fly on Tuesday and Saturday. I have just
got win and I haven't seen it in writing yet, Katie,
but if I do, I'll make sure I can turn
that with you. But I understand Corners has made a
call of honoring bonds of tickets, not just for stranded passengers,
but for those with advanced tickets. So once I have
(07:40):
those details to hand, i'll make sure you're aware of that.
But I don't want to build up too much expectation.
But if that's If that's the case, I certainly encourage
those affected bonds of passengers to take advantage of that.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
One hundred percent.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Will allow people to come in and out absolutely well.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Let us know how they go, Daniel, and please do
keep in contact with us. Will be more than happy
to let listeners know. Mate. Thanks so much for you
chat this morning. I know it like I can't imagine
how you guys are feeling at the moment. It's a
real roller coaster in Alice Springs. You sort of have
a couple of days where things seem as though they're
on the up. You have the Prime Minister visit, then
you get a kick in the guts the next day
(08:18):
with Bonza some you know a lot. It has to
get better at some point.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Absolutely, And look, you know we're representing the people who
don't get paid a paycheck every fortnight. These are the
people who are just having to live based on the
income they make. And you know it is as tough
as tough come back.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
Yeah, Daniel Rochford, thank you. As always, I appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
Thanks Katie, thank you,
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