Editor’s Desk: Even with end in sight, Qantas has a lot to answer for in its treatment of Geraldton commuters

I have not flown the Geraldton to Perth route much lately. More often than not in recent times, I’ve chosen the drive over the flight even though I’m far from a fan of that road trip. And the $500 price tag for an average return fare is not the only reason I’ve grounded myself. It’s just seemed all too hard to bother flying. Flying commuters have been forced to deal with change and uncertainty, in Geraldton and everywhere else over the past few years. Qantas took a chainsaw to Geraldton’s flight schedule last year, blaming everything from COVID-induced staff issues, to avoiding unnecessary flight cancellations because of a lack of demand. The cutback schedule has undoubtedly had an impact on Geraldton’s business and healthcare industries, with many workers, executives and medical specialists relying on double daily flights to do their business within a day. Let’s just hope it won’t leave a lasting or permanent impact. Now, it’s been a gradual reinstatement but we were finally told last week that double daily flights will be available every weekday from May 24. Last week I had a work commitment, so I flew down to Perth and back within a couple of days. When I left on Wednesday, that was a day with only one flight around midday. When I returned on Friday, there was an early morning or afternoon flight available. And let me tell you on both flights, on both days, it was chock-full, hardly a spare seat to be seen. I know this is a small sample, but surely Qantas can’t be relying on the lack of demand argument anymore. So it’s long overdue they are bringing back double daily flights every day. Arguably, it should be an immediate move rather than forcing us to wait another few months until we get back to our pre-COVID normal. It’s hard when you don’t have any competition to turn to in order to protest your displeasure at Qantas. But given the Flying Kangaroo posted a record $1.43 billion half-year profit last week, you can’t help but think Qantas has and continues to treat the Geraldton flying public with disdain and indifference. It’s not good enough, and we deserve better. It’s good news to hear the schedule will eventually revert to normal, but it should not have taken this long to rectify. And a side note complaint unrelated to Qantas. After getting off a packed flight, you wouldn’t expect to encounter any dramas with getting a taxi quick smart, would you? Well, here I was walking out of the arrivals door at Geraldton Airport without seeing any taxis in sight and then when ringing up a company being told it was at least a 20-minute wait! What is with that? Local taxi companies — surely you can do better than that!