Darwin travel agents are worried about the impact on passengers when Jetstar takes over Qantas’ international routes, in and out of the Northern Territory.
Jetstar has announced it will operate a daily service from Cairns to Darwin and Singapore – replacing the existing five days a week service currently offered by Qantas.
Travel agent Sandra Lew Fatt says the transition will be very confusing for passengers.
“People have booked on Qantas because they wanted to travel on Qantas and they were willing to pay the dearer fare that Qantas had and now they’re going to be travelling on Jetstar,” she said.
Unions have also expressed concerns.
ASU spokesman Lucio Matarazzo says union members are concerned Qantas may disappear from the Territory.
“In the long run, if that continues, Qantas may replace Qantas employees with Jetstar employees, employed by inferior conditions of employment,” he said.
Mr Matarazzo says the ASU has not received any assurances from Qantas about which country the cabin crews for Jetstar’s international flights will come from.
“We’re seeking Qantas to confirm whether the cabin crew and the flight crew, i.e. the flight attendants, will be Australian employees … or will they be overseas-based employees,” he said.
“That’s something we’re awaiting Qantas to confirm for us.”
