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Virgin Australia, Qantas and Hawaiian Airlines are to begin offering “rescue fares” for passengers stranded by the collapse of Air Australia.
An estimated 4000 passengers are stuck in Thailand, Bali and Hawaii after the budget carrier was unable to pay for fuel and abruptly ceased flying and went into voluntary administration.
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Virgin said it would it would offer stranded customers one-way tickets from Bali (Denpasar) to Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane for US$199 excluding baggage. The special fares are on sale through Monday and good for travel until March 2, Virgin said. A normal one-way fare from Bali to Sydney is $439, according to the airline’s website.
Qantas and Jetstar said that for stranded Air Australia passengers who had already commenced their journey they would match the applicable sector fare of the customer’s ticket, and announced special one-way and return international and domestic fares for passengers holding Air Australia bookings who have yet to travel.
Qantas has also announced plans to begin operating Brisbane-Port Hedland services from March 13, and that it “stands ready to commence operations on Perth-Derby at short notice. This service is currently regulated by the Western Australian government.”
Hawaiian said it would offer $300 rescue fares on its daily Honolulu-Sydney service through March 1.
Travellers are required to show documentation proving they were booked on an Air Australia flight.
Known as Strategic Airways prior to relaunching as a budget carrier late last year, Brisbane based Air Australia had been rumoured to be in financial trouble for some time but had denied that it was broke as recently as yesterday.
