The boss of a Melbourne airport has expressed concern over news of financial troubles within the Illawarra flight operator, JetGo.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
CEO Chris Cowan said JetGo was a "very important" airline for his Essendon Fields airport, which is why he hoped any legal disputes or cash flow problems could soon be resolved.
"All passengers want is to have a reliable and regular service, and to have some uncertainty is certainly not ideal,” he said.
Mr Cowan said the Melbourne to Wollongong route had proven to be the most popular route for the regional carrier.
However, he said flights in and out of the Illawarra had been hit by service reductions since April.
"It is by far their best route, the most viable and profitable with the most numbers on it," he said.
"Our desire is to get back to a reliable, regular service because we can see this service growing.
It's been that well supported by the people of Wollongong and Melbourne, that we are a bit frustrated, and we'd like to see it grow rather than the disruptions we've seen in recent weeks.
- Chris Cowan
“It's been that well supported by the people of Wollongong and Melbourne, that we are a bit frustrated, and we'd like to see it grow rather than the disruptions we've seen in recent weeks."
Mr Cowan also said the Melbourne to Dubbo route - which has landed the airline in a legal dispute with Dubbo Regional Council - was popular and viable.
"We also believe Dubbo could easily justify more services per week," he said.
Despite JetGo's money troubles, Mr Cowan said he was hopeful it would be able to overcome any legal challenges and continue operating.
"In many ways, JetGo is a pioneer in regional aviation," he said.
"I'm confident these passenger services will continue, and JetGo has established that service and ironing out a lot of the bugs to make them successful."
Kate McIlwain
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
