Foreign airlines could soon fly domestic routes to and from Darwin, but would it reduce prices?
And that's for flights that depart and arrive around midnight or the early morning hours.
It's little wonder airfares are a key issue in the Northern Territory this election campaign.
Candidates in the Darwin-based seat of Solomon are all promising to push for lower prices as a cost-of-living measure.
The Coalition has now announced if elected it would change laws to allow international airlines to carry domestic passengers to and from Darwin and the east coast.
But would the policy be effective?
Return airfares from Darwin regularly cost more than $1,000.
(
Facebook: Darwin International Airport
)
What is being promised?
The Coalition has promised to implement a two-year trial allowing international airlines to fly between Darwin and east coast capital cities, if it wins government.
Currently, federal laws restrict foreign carriers from flying domestic routes.
The Coalition said it would remove the "outdated" laws which it said had "kept Darwin airfares high and restricted services".
The changes would allow airlines to stop over in Darwin while on an international route, enabling them to pick up and drop off passengers.
Under the proposed changes, airlines would be able to pick up and drop off passengers in Darwin, while on an international route.
(
ABC News: Michael Franchi
)
Are foreign airlines interested?
Current Member for Solomon Luke Gosling has previously
The Labor MP said Darwin could become "a pilot location" for cabotage, but there was
A Labor spokesperson said the federal government's Aviation White Paper "already commits us to opening up domestic routes to international carriers on a case-by-case basis".
"We will consider requests by airlines when demand is there," they said.
Luke Gosling says there is no demand for cabotage.
(
ABC News: Hamish Harty
)
Asked repeatedly whether the Coalition had spoken to international carriers before announcing its policy, Shadow Minister for Transport Bridget McKenzie didn't provide a direct answer.
"Once we actually open that opportunity for international airlines, then there will be a demand because we know even the Darwin-Brisbane flight, that's at nearly 88 per cent capacity," she told ABC Radio Darwin on Wednesday.
"Airlines are interested where there is demand, where they can actually make money.
"That's why we're putting it on the table to trial it here for two years and give that opportunity to international carriers, such as [those in] the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore."
Bridget McKenzie Asian airlines could be interested in flying Australian domestic routes.
(
ABC News: Luke Stephenson
)
Neil Hansford, an international aviation consultant, says airlines aren't interested in Darwin stopovers on international routes.
"There's no incentive for them to do it because they've got all the traffic rights they need to, to fly directly to the major markets of Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne," he said.
"The consumer doesn't want intermediate stops.
"This is going against the trend of Australians who want to fly direct with no stops."
Neil Hansford says international airlines aren't interested in Darwin stopovers.
(
ABC News
)
Are Darwin airport fees a turn-off for airlines?
The
Virgin has claimed the fees
ADG has
Nevertheless, Mr Hansford says the fees are another reason international airlines may not take interest in the Coalition's proposed changes.
"Currently the high cost of using our airports is what drives the prices," he says.
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The Advertiser
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The post comes after Australia's decision to recognise the state of Palestine and refuse entry to significant Israeli figures. Israel responded by revoking the visas of a trio of Australian representatives to the Palestinian Authority. The diplomats were tasked with helping Australia engage with the Palestinian Authority as the federal government's recognition of Palestine is tied to commitments made by the body, including an assurance that designated terror group Hamas play no role in a future state. Though they have not been working in Gaza, the diplomats had liaised with humanitarian organisations which have been trying to get aid into the territory. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the government had a right to safeguard communities and protect "all Australians from hate and harm". 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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in August confirmed Australia's intention to recognise Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly meeting in September. The decision came after more than 100,000 people marched across the Sydney Harbour Bridge to protest the war in Gaza. Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Gideon Sa'ar accused the Australian government of fuelling anti-Semitism as he announced the visa cancellations on social media on Monday. "This follows Australia's decisions to recognise a 'Palestinian state' and against the backdrop of Australia's unjustified refusal to grant visas to a number of Israeli figures, including former minister Ayelet Shaked and ... (Member of the Knesset) Simcha Rothman," Mr Sa'ar posted on X. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said she regretted the way the relationship between the Australian and Israeli governments was deteriorating. "That is something all Australians should be very sad about today," she told reporters in Sydney. Australia should be supporting Israel as a "liberal democracy" but had not demonstrated that in recent weeks, Ms Ley said, calling on Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke to explain his decision to reject Mr Rothman's visa. The Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council also called the move "deeply troubling". Australia has also denied entry to former Israeli minister Ayelet Shaked, based on anti-Palestinian comments, and Israeli advocate Hillel Fuld. Canberra has further imposed sanctions on two far-right Israeli ministers, including travel bans. The federal government has denied entry to people who have a history of anti-Semitism, including rapper Kanye West after he released a song praising Hitler, as well as Lebanese pro-Hezbollah influencer Hussain Makke. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been accused of having "abandoned Australia's Jews" by his Israeli counterpart as relations deteriorate between the two nations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took to social media to personally attack Mr Albanese in an escalation of the diplomatic stoush. "History will remember Albanese for what he is: a weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia's Jews," he wrote. The post comes after Australia's decision to recognise the state of Palestine and refuse entry to significant Israeli figures. Israel responded by revoking the visas of a trio of Australian representatives to the Palestinian Authority. The diplomats were tasked with helping Australia engage with the Palestinian Authority as the federal government's recognition of Palestine is tied to commitments made by the body, including an assurance that designated terror group Hamas play no role in a future state. Though they have not been working in Gaza, the diplomats had liaised with humanitarian organisations which have been trying to get aid into the territory. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the government had a right to safeguard communities and protect "all Australians from hate and harm". "At a time when dialogue and diplomacy are needed more than ever, the Netanyahu government is isolating Israel and undermining international efforts towards peace and a two-state solution," Senator Wong said on Tuesday. "This is an unjustified reaction following Australia's decision to recognise Palestine." She said Australia would continue to contribute to "international momentum to a two-state solution, a ceasefire in Gaza and release of the hostages" and would always take decisive action against anti-Semitism. The Palestinian Authority's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned Israel's "arbitrary" cancellations. It stressed it would continue to deal with the Australian diplomats, saying Israel had no legal basis to block citizens of a third nation from entering Palestinian territory. Australia earlier had denied far-right Israeli politician Simcha Rothman entry into the country for a speaking tour after provocative comments, including branding children in Gaza as enemies. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in August confirmed Australia's intention to recognise Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly meeting in September. The decision came after more than 100,000 people marched across the Sydney Harbour Bridge to protest the war in Gaza. Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Gideon Sa'ar accused the Australian government of fuelling anti-Semitism as he announced the visa cancellations on social media on Monday. "This follows Australia's decisions to recognise a 'Palestinian state' and against the backdrop of Australia's unjustified refusal to grant visas to a number of Israeli figures, including former minister Ayelet Shaked and ... (Member of the Knesset) Simcha Rothman," Mr Sa'ar posted on X. 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The federal government has denied entry to people who have a history of anti-Semitism, including rapper Kanye West after he released a song praising Hitler, as well as Lebanese pro-Hezbollah influencer Hussain Makke.
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Swatch apologies for ad showing gesture seen as racist
Swiss watchmaker Swatch has apologised for an ad campaign that upset consumers in China and elsewhere and says it has 'immediately removed all related materials worldwide'. In an image for the Swatch Essentials collection, an Asian male model is shown pulling the edges of his eyelids upward and backward with his fingers — a gesture seen as derogatory and racist, Swiss public broadcaster SRF reports. The image triggered criticism on social media in China, with major influencers weighing in. Swatch wrote on Instagram that 'we sincerely apologise for any distress or misunderstanding this may have caused'. It said it would 'treat this matter with the utmost importance'. SRF reported that the apology was also posted on the Chinese social network Weibo in Chinese and English. China is a major market for luxury brands and watchmakers. The founders of Dolce&Gabbana apologised on video in 2018 after a Chinese boycott of its products over what were seen as culturally insensitive videos promoting a runway show in Shanghai. Swiss watch exporters are facing new tariffs in the US and a prolonged slowdown, with significant declines in the United States, Japan and Hong Kong, according to industry association figures.
