ABC South East SA: Grace Whiteside
)The first Qantas flights have touched down at Mount Gambier's regional airport in South Australia, signalling the end of a 14-year monopoly on the region for Regional Express (REX).
Dozens of locals gathered at the airport on Sunday morning to see a Qantas plane land on the tarmac for the first time.
Grant District Council Mayor Richard Sage said it was incredibly exciting.
“The possibility of tourism experiences and the domestic flights that will be in and out with both REX and QantasLink will be really good for the region,” he said.
ABC South East SA: Grace Whiteside
)Cr Sage said it offered “a real opportunity for the region”.
He said he would love to see people come to experience everything the region had to offer.
“I think, at the end of the day, the travelling public will definitely be the beneficiaries,” he said.
ABC South East SA: Grace Whiteside
)Tourism opportunities
South Australian Tourism Commission chief executive Rodney Harrex said having a second airline carrier was a major benefit.
“The opportunity to have competition into Mount Gambier is absolutely crucial," he said.
“We see that in other parts of Australia, we see that in other parts of our state.
"Look at Port Lincoln, for example. You've got two carriers servicing the route.
Mr Harrex said it was good to have increased access to Melbourne.
ABC South East SA: Grace Whiteside
)“Melbourne and Victoria [made up] 40 per cent of the visitor economy in South Australia, pre COVID," Mr Harrex said.
“So this is a really important step to have that direct access to a key market like Victoria.
ABC South East SA: Grace Whiteside
)“We've seen the growth of domestic tourism, it is incredibly strong.
“This region has got so many areas of growth, whether it's forestry, agriculture, tourism, aquaculture.
“From a business point of view, from a tourism point of view, from a locals' point of view, to have that competition is so crucial, and we're really positive about that.
Welcomed by locals
The Williamson family were part of the crowd that gathered inside the airport on Sunday morning.
Belinda Williamson described the arrival of Qantas as “fantastic”.
ABC South East SA: Grace Whiteside
)“The competition is going to make flights a lot more reasonable for anybody who's travelling for business, but also having medical specialists coming into town as well,” she said.
“So now that there is two, we’ll be able to take a weekend flight to Adelaide or Melbourne and it's a lot more reasonable. Whereas before it would just be out of the question.”
ABC South East SA: Grace Whiteside
)David Williamson said it was also a positive step for tourism.
“It will be great for extra exposure for the region, getting tourists to come in and getting us out there to the others as well.
“Getting more people to the regions through bigger planes — more availability of flights. When you're regional, it’s just fantastic for us.”
Regional Express has been contacted for comment.
