Flights to Uluru / Ayers Rock

[seanthesheep]

Hi all,

We're currently in Alice Springs for work and keen to check our Uluru while we are here. However it appears that there are no flights from Alice to Uluru? We would need to fly to Alice --> Mel / Syd --> Uluru! I have previously taken a Qantaslink flight Alice --> Uluru but it appears that isn't running.

Trying to avoid the 5 hour drive from Alice if possible.

Does anyone have any information about when flights will be resuming? Google wasn't too helpful unfortunately.

Thanks!

 

[Mattg]

There's normally QF1854 (ASP 13:50 - AYQ 14:45) and QF1851 (AYQ 09:05 - ASP 09:55) but these haven't run for about a year. The flights are still listed in the GDS, but with zero availability (i.e. no seats being sold because the flights aren't running) until 30 October 2021. After that date, they disappear from the GDS altogether. So I don't think the route will return in the near future.

Given these flights are squarely aimed at tourists (particularly international tourists), and the lack of tourists in Alice Springs at the moment, I'm not all that surprised. Perhaps it'll be back when international borders reopen.

 

[PERLHR]

Funnily enough I had also been looking at options. Best I can find is route with Jetstar to AYQ from SYD and then drive to ASP for flight out. Prices high and ofcourse not that good if just working in Alice Springs and wanting to visit Ayers R.

 

[ChrisW.]

Same happened to us today with the ASP to AYQ cancelled for June and not really having a plan B.
We booked SYD-ASP-AYQ and then AYQ-ASP-DRW.
Guess another trip that won't happen as there are no other options on the day and time we had booked. Very annoying and makes it impossible to plan as we only booked that trip 4 weeks ago assuming the flight schedule for winter with QF is settled now (assuming borders stay open)
Had our ASP-SYD cancelled too 2 weeks ago too...

 

[PERLHR]

Same happened to us today with the ASP to AYQ cancelled for June and not really having a plan B.
We booked SYD-ASP-AYQ and then AYQ-ASP-DRW.
Guess another trip that won't happen as there are no other options on the day and time we had booked. Very annoying and makes it impossible to plan as we only booked that trip 4 weeks ago assuming the flight schedule for winter with QF is settled now (assuming borders stay open)
Had our ASP-SYD cancelled too 2 weeks ago too...

That's interesting and not very good PR for the carrier. Hope you find a solution.

 

[jrandsk]

I was advised just yesterday that Qantas has cancelled the only flight available from Alice Springs to Uluru - no one else flies that route. We had booked to fly Adelaide/Alice/Uluru on 8 April and return on 11 April and Qantas' farcical solution is to fly Adelaide/Sydney/Uluru and return Uluru/Melbourne/Adelaide - mostly on Jetstar which we refuse to fly. Hard to believe that our Nation's carrier has cancelled a key regional flight at the same time it is the beneficiary of significant government largesse through the "half-price flights" campaign aimed at getting Aussies into the regions. Yet another example of a company with no regard to the flying public

 

[TheInsider]

I was advised just yesterday that Qantas has cancelled the only flight available from Alice Springs to Uluru - no one else flies that route. We had booked to fly Adelaide/Alice/Uluru on 8 April and return on 11 April and Qantas' farcical solution is to fly Adelaide/Sydney/Uluru and return Uluru/Melbourne/Adelaide - mostly on Jetstar which we refuse to fly. Hard to believe that our Nation's carrier has cancelled a key regional flight at the same time it is the beneficiary of significant government largesse through the "half-price flights" campaign aimed at getting Aussies into the regions. Yet another example of a company with no regard to the flying public

If no one is flying it, why bother operating it?
They must have some serious load issues if they are canning the route.

 

[ChrisW.]

It is so frustrating. We had booked this trip (1 PNR) for June as a Classic Reward, all flights on QF. (booked in late Jan/early Feb this year)
SYD-ASP-AYQ (11.06)
AYQ-ASP (14.06)
ASP-DRW (15.06)
DRW-SYD (19.06)

After the cancellations in the last two days, it looks like this
SYD-AYQ (11.06) now on JQ
ASP-DRW (15.06)
DRW-SYD (19.06)

--> this is hilarious as the flight from AYQ to ASP is just missing (cancelled) and we have to make it at our own expense from AYQ to ASP.
I called Qantas and asked them for options (did some research before) but as we booked a Classic Reward, the only options are full refund or leave as it is. There is no seat from AYQ to anywhere. I suggested excluding ASP and put us on AYQ-SYD-DRW or so, just to save at least parts of the trip but there was no way they could create seats on the JQ flight from AYQ to SYD.

Everyone is talking about support for the regions etc. but with flights still getting cancelled for June, how should we plan ahead?

So there is no other option even though I booked a ticket from AYQ to ASP just because I used points? She said it would not be a problem if I had a cash fare...

 

[dajop]

Some one needs to ask Rex, sounds like a good Saab route via CPD! They could than get some subsidies out of the government to keep the route going which will mean QF will re-enter the route as well

 

[dajop]

There is no seat from AYQ to anywhere. I suggested excluding ASP and put us on AYQ-SYD-DRW or so, just to save at least parts of the trip but there was no way they could create seats on the JQ flight from AYQ to SYD.

Looking at the classic award availability, there are seats available AYQ-MEL and then MEL-CNS-DRW on 14th (overnighting in CNS). All on JQ

 

[ChrisW.]

But AYQ-MEL is only available on the 13th, not on the 14th. As it is a birthday (weekend), not keen to fly on the 13th. Also looked at car rental from ASP, but that is just through the roof.

 

[dajop]

But AYQ-MEL is only available on the 13th, not on the 14th. As it is a birthday (weekend), not keen to fly on the 13th. Also looked at car rental from ASP, but that is just through the roof.

Sorry, I was looking at wrong month!