Fly Corporate will suspend passenger flights from Tamworth and Armidale to Brisbane tomorrow, after the announcement of interstate travel bans designed to halt the spread of COVID-19.
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CEO Andrew Major said the circumstances are "unprecedented" and apologised to customers affected by the decision, set to be implemented from 1pm on Wednesday, March 25.
Armidale Regional Council said the airline's decision to suspend flights was partly influenced by a ban on travel to Queensland, but was also an economic one, with Fly Corporate affected by plummeting passenger numbers.
Mayor Simon Murray backed the "tough" decision, which he said would help them get back on their feet once the crisis ends.
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"Airline passenger services are feeling the full force of the COVID-19 shutdown and we completely understand the difficult position the airline is in," he said.
"Health and safety of airline staff and the community is paramount at this time. I have every confidence that Fly Corporate will be back in Armidale providing passenger services to Brisbane once the crisis is over."
The Sunshine State is set to completely close its borders at midnight on Wednesday, with travellers forced into a fortnight's quarantine in a bid to stem the spread of coronavirus in Queensland.
Fly Corporate aims to resume operations in the second half of 2020 depending on the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The service promised to resume normal operations as soon they are able to. Affected passengers will be issued credit.