By ERWIN CHLANDA
Qantas and Virgin will operate a “minimum domestic network” serving towns including Alice Springs under a Federal Government initiative costing an initial $165m.
The network, which includes all state and territory capital cities and major regional centres, comes in addition to the more than $1 billion in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Michael McCormack (pictured).
He says these arrangements will last for an initial eight weeks with a review mechanism in place.
UPDATE 2.50pm
Alice Springs will get four flights a week between Sydney, Alice and Darwin – north-bound on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and going south on Wednesdays and Fridays, according to Alice Springs Airport manager Dave Batic.
It will be a Boeing 373, mostly used for freight, such as medical requirements and COVID related goods, but there will also be room for passengers.