Corporate travel experts ATPI Australia has welcomed a Qantas decision to reduce flights while it deals with delays and cancellations across Australia — and says other airlines should also review their schedules.
ATPI Australia, a part of the ATPI Group, global leader in travel management and events, said taking such action would help to reduce passenger anger when flights were cancelled, sometimes within minutes of the scheduled departure.
ATPI Regional Managing Director Australasia and Africa Peter Muller said airlines had to be realistic about the number of flights they could provide until staff shortages and demand eased.
Mr Muller said leisure travel in Australia was at about 120 per cent of pre-COVID levels; corporate travel was close to returning to 2019 levels.
“Without having an official cap, airlines should manage their loads,” Mr Muller said.
“At least then the travelling public would have confidence that when they’ve booked their flight, it will take off and they will get to their destination.
“It sounds counter-intuitive for a travel management company to be talking about restricting flights, but these are extraordinary times and perhaps drastic action is required.
“The alternative is continuing frustration.”
