ACT Looking to Reestablish Canberra to Melbourne Budget Route

13th Jul 2016

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) government is reportedly pushing to reinstate the LCC Canberra-Melbourne route.

The route has been inactive for the past five year when it comes to budget carriers, with the last one to fly it being Tigerair. The airline operated the Canberra-Melbourne route for more than two years and has carried around 140,000 passengers per year during that time, before discontinuing the route completely in 2011.

Tigerair was forced to cancel the service in August, 2011 due to being grounded by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).

Chief ACT Minister Andrew Barr and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews talked recently about this. Mr Barr said the low-cost airlines operating in and out of Canberra would "provide a significant boost" to it.

Mr Barr said:

"While the ACT has been successful in attracting international flights, there is still a need to improve our domestic offerings to give Canberrians and visitors more reasons to visit our city. Introducing new, low-cost carrier services to and from Canberra would provide a significant boost to our local economy through growth in tourism expenditure. New services would also create jobs and stimulate travel."

ACT Government to Name Commissioner for International Engagement

Meanwhile, the ACT government has also announced that it will name the commissioner for international engagement. The commissioner will be tasked with heading the new Office of International Engagement.

ACT Chief Minister Barr said the following about this:

"This new position will play a key role in supporting and maintaining our engagement with like-minded international cities and regions ? relationships that are important for both Canberra's economic diversification and our place in a modern and connected world."

He also added:

"We have reached a stage where we must lift our international effort to another level to compete with other Australian jurisdictions and major cities."

The commissioner would also be in charge of supporting relationships with Wellington, Beijing, East Timor and Nara. In addition, the commissioner will also look to support the memorandum of understanding Canberra signed with Singapore and Shenzhen, China.

The ACT saw the biggest influx of domestic and international visitors into its territory in its history.