In a strategic move to bolster tourism and enhance accessibility for the residents of Kangaroo Island, Qantas has announced an expansion in its flight schedule, introducing additional return flights to the island starting this summer.
This initiative, undertaken in collaboration with the South Australian Tourism Commission, signifies a growing confidence in the tourism prospects of Kangaroo Island.
The revised flight schedule includes 12 return flights each week during the summer of 2023/24, with two flights scheduled on each weekday and daily flights over the weekends.
The winter of 2024 will see a continuation of this trend with nine return flights each week. Moreover, in a bid to facilitate more convenient day-return trips between Adelaide and Kangaroo Island, the outbound times from Kingscote have been shifted from a 3:05pm slot to a 5pm time slot, a change that has been implemented based on feedback from the community.
Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison expressed optimism regarding the increased flight frequency, viewing it as a positive indicator of the growing appeal of Kangaroo Island as a tourist destination.
“With mouth-watering local food and wine, breathtaking scenery and luxury accommodation Kangaroo Island is one of our state’s great tourism drawcards”, Minister Bettison said.
“All eyes are on Kangaroo Island, with the iconic destination having received multiple international and national accolades, including being named an essential tourist destination by the New York Times and Time Magazine, as well as Stokes Bay taking the title of best beach in Australia.
“As we head into the peak summer season and await exciting developments on the Island like the reopening of the Southern Ocean Lodge, the increase in flights will help attract more out-of-state visitors who will inject valuable dollars into the regional economy.”
Meanwhile, Kangaroo Island Mayor Michael Pengilly acknowledged the vital role that the additional flights would play in improving accessibility for locals, especially for those seeking medical and professional appointments on the mainland.
“Qantas responds to market demand, and we thank the airline for taking on local feedback about the need for Kangaroo Island locals and businesses to be able to travel back and forth between destinations in one day,” Mr Pengilly said.
“The key to maintaining a consistent service is to ensure continued use of the flights. I encourage our businesses, the community, and anyone travelling for leisure to make use of the new service.
“I can’t stress how important it is that residents and visitors use these additional flights, which will further reinforce our case that our island needs consistent, reliable and long-term air access. We look forward to welcoming more people to use these new services in the coming months,” he said.
In conjunction with the increased flight services, the Kangaroo Island Council is seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) from experienced operators to provide food and beverage services at the Kangaroo Island Airport. This initiative is aimed at enhancing the airport experience by offering quality refreshments and food options, catering to the needs of both airline passengers and the general public, and potentially attracting passer-by traffic throughout the day.
To express interest and to find out more information, click here.
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