Aust. domestic air fares cut

Press, 12 April 1979, Page 6

Aust. domestic air fares cut

NZPA Canberra The Australian Transport Minister (Mr Peter Nixon) has announced sweeping changes to domestic air fares with savings of up to 40 per cent for both Australians and overseas visitors. He said yesterday tha. the object of the new fares, to come into operation on May 27, was: to provide cheaper domestic connections for travel on the new low fares on international flights; to encourage overseas visitors to travel more widely within Australia; and to make travel within Australia cheaper for Australians. He said international add-ons over domestic sectors for outbound passengers would provide a 30 per cent concession off the normal domestic economy return fare for connecting services between

the 19 jet airports on the network. “There will be a higher concession of 40 per cent for Perth and Darwin connections to Sydney and Melbourne, because of tlieir remoteness.” Mr Nixon said the international add-ons would be available for combination with the new international Apex group inclusive tour, and budget fares introduced since February. Mr Nixon also announced the expansion of the existing domestic Apex scheme providing a 25 per cent discount on the normal economy fare from the existing 11 jet airports to 19 jet airports. I'he additional ports are Cairns, Coolangatta. Gove, Mackay, Port Hedland, Proserpine, Rockhampton, and Townsville. This scheme will be available approximately 286 days of the year.