Seeking Community Input on QantasLink Flight Schedule

Moree Plains Shire Council is seeking community feedback on a proposal to adjust the Moree-Sydney (MRZ-SYD) flight schedule.

“In April this year, with the introduction of the larger Q400 planes and under the new license agreement for the route, the Moree-Sydney flight schedule was reduced from 10 flights per week to 7 – the minimum under the Transport for NSW agreement,” said Mayor, Cr Susannah Pearse.

“Whilst the larger planes are fantastic, the reduced number of flights has had impacts for our community, as the schedule does not allow for the ability to travel to and from Sydney or Moree as a one day trip.

“This impacts on our residents who may not have the time or budget to stay in Sydney overnight. We also know that this has affected visiting medical specialists".

A QantasLink review of the new flight schedule has demonstrated that the existing Saturday morning service is experiencing the lowest use of all flights. Discussions with local stakeholders including medical services and neighbouring councils have highlighted a potential benefit of a Tuesday evening flight, which would offer residents and visiting professionals a more practical option for day trips or overnight stays that facilitate a full working day on Tuesday or Wednesday.

“Whilst we would love to see more flights added, we have the option of swapping out the underperforming Saturday morning flight for a reinstated Tuesday evening flight. But we need to ensure that any change reflects the community’s needs.

“I encourage all users of the route to have their say on the proposal by completing our survey.”