AirAsia dumps Darwin
AirAsia is scrapping its Darwin to Bali route after just 14 months serving Australia’s Top End.
AirAsia flies to Bali four times per week, and reduced its service from daily flights last October.
Darwin Airport management was told of the decision only hours before AirAsia sent text messages and emails to affected customers, who have been offered a refund or an opportunity to re-book their flight to a date before April 29 – when the last Darwin to Bali service operates.
Darwin Airport services director, Jim Parashos, told the Northern Territory News the suspension was because of other destinations such as Thailand and the Philippines eroded the Bali market share.
The Northern Territory government has invested $56,000 worth of “cooperative advertising” in AirAsia when it launched services to Darwin in Christmas 2010.
AirAsia X has also scrapped services to Paris, London and destinations in India.
There is also speculation that Christchurch in New Zealand will be the next AirAsia X destination to be scrapped.
Meanwhile, SilkAir has been quick to capitalize on Air Asia’s exit from Darwin by extending the sale of economy and business class promotional fares for travel from Darwin to a range of destinations across South East Asia and Europe.
MOLE COMMENT: As we saw with Air Australia, which collapsed last week, if you buy a ticket on a budget airline there is no guarantee you will fly on the date you book. Or, indeed, if you will fly at all.
As the chef minister of the Northern Territory said after hearing the news that AirAsia was pulling out of Darwin, “Budget airlines come and go like buses”.
Except AirAsia is making a habit of trumpeting how wonderful it is to fly medium and long haul routes, only to scrap them when – as many have suggested to them – they are not viable.
Ian Jarrett
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026