Mac Air flights to Bamaga

[geoffjy]

As of late November, Mac Air will be doing flights from Cairns to Bamaga on Sundays. If their is a need for more flights during the weekdays, then they will cater for it.

I wont be celebrating yet, but this could mean cheaper flights. Whoo hoooo. Finally.

[ant]

Lets hope you are right Geoff.
I have a group flying into Bamaga on the 7th of November for the second part of the Cape trip and their flights are $400.00ea one way. That is a little over the top for my liking but what choice did they have??

[geoffjy]

Lets hope you are right Geoff.
I have a group flying into Bamaga on the 7th of November for the second part of the Cape trip and their flights are $400.00ea one way. That is a little over the top for my liking but what choice did they have??

Exactly. None. I tried going through Horn Island with Qantas in April because it was about $150 cheaper even after ferry fees and such. Let me say that it is the last time i do that. Qantas had a problem with the emergency door and our flight got delayed 9 hours. They said they were going to get another 70 seater in but they couldnt find it, they thought it might be in Weipa. Not a good experience at all.

Locals up here get a special rate when flying in or out with Regional. Its cheaper than $400 but still a lot of money considering what aerotropics used to charge.

[ant]

Exactly. None. I tried going through Horn Island with Qantas in April because it was about $150 cheaper even after ferry fees and such. Let me say that it is the last time i do that. Qantas had a problem with the emergency door and our flight got delayed 9 hours. They said they were going to get another 70 seater in but they couldnt find it, they thought it might be in Weipa. Not a good experience at all.

Locals up here get a special rate when flying in or out with Regional. Its cheaper than $400 but still a lot of money considering what aerotropics used to charge.

Geoff,
I was quoted $270.00 but then later told that this only applies for bookings made within 24 hours of the flight departing.

[geoffjy]

Geoff,
I was quoted $270.00 but then later told that this only applies for bookings made within 24 hours of the flight departing.

Also available on Tuesdays. On Tuesday they have a morning and an afternoon flight when you can get local fare. Bookings can be whenever you want be it 2 days before or a month before departure.

[geoffjy]

Here is the blurb on it-

Media Release
MacAir increases presence in Cape York….


MacAir Airlines today announced the introduction of weekly flights between
Cairns and Northern Peninsula Area (formerly Bamaga) commencing late
November 2008 (subject to final regulatory approvals). The service will initially
operate on Sunday, with additional weekday flights to be introduced according to
demand for travel between these destinations.
The services will be operated by a SAAB 340B aircraft – a fast, pressurized
aircraft offering cabin class services and comfort. MacAir currently also operates
SAAB 340B aircraft to Kowanyama and Edward River in Cape York.
To celebrate the introduction of these services, MacAir will be offering ‘early bird’
fares, with flights starting from $150 each way. MacAir Airlines are a Qantas
Frequent Flyer partner, with points earned on all MacAir commercial services.
MacAir flights can be booked online at www.macair.com.au, or with your
preferred travel agent.
[ENDS]
Date: Tuesday, 7 October 2008
Further information: Sarah Raymond, Head of Sales & Marketing
MacAir Airlines Pty Ltd
P: 07 47299411
E: sarah.raymond@macair.com.au

[plucker]

150 bucks sounds cheap as chips. Maybe that might stop the bitumen invasion.

[geoffjy]

150 bucks sounds cheap as chips. Maybe that might stop the bitumen invasion.

I would seriously doubt that Plucker. One of the tourism meetings i went to recently had a guest speaker from main roads. He said that every year they get funding of 20 million a year to maintain and seal the cape road. To think next year from Lakeland to LAura will be sealed. Its just a matter of time.

[ant]

I would seriously doubt that Plucker. One of the tourism meetings i went to recently had a guest speaker from main roads. He said that every year they get funding of 20 million a year to maintain and seal the cape road. To think next year from Lakeland to LAura will be sealed. Its just a matter of time.

Geoff,
The implications go even further than that. To take things to the extreme. without a dirt road, what is the purpose of a 4WD vehicle? The type of tourist and their vehicle will change (as it has already). In years to come, 4WD's and campers (tents, swags, etc) may be a thing of the past as they may be replaced by standard vehicles towing caravans, etc. Have a look at Karumba and the type of tourist visiting there.

Maybe one saving grace is that a lot of Cape York is still private/DOGIT land (at this stage) so access is still somewhat restricted. The main areas visited at present (Weipa, Bamaga, Seisia, Cooktown, etc) simply cannot handle any more tourists in the peak season and there really isn't any way of expansion.
The other factor is good old Mother Nature. No matter what 'we' put in place, a good wet season can turn things back overnight. You simply don't/can't mess with Mother Nature.

The next few years will be very interesting times.

[yetti]

gday ant,

god help me, i can't move any further north!!! Theres enough tourists already, and yes i depend on them for my income. however i would rather be poorer with no more tourist numbers, than richer with a lot more idiots!!!

long live kick arse wet seasons.

cheers mate,
bat

[geoffjy]

Geoff,
The implications go even further than that. To take things to the extreme. without a dirt road, what is the purpose of a 4WD vehicle? The type of tourist and their vehicle will change (as it has already). In years to come, 4WD's and campers (tents, swags, etc) may be a thing of the past as they may be replaced by standard vehicles towing caravans, etc. Have a look at Karumba and the type of tourist visiting there.

Maybe one saving grace is that a lot of Cape York is still private/DOGIT land (at this stage) so access is still somewhat restricted. The main areas visited at present (Weipa, Bamaga, Seisia, Cooktown, etc) simply cannot handle any more tourists in the peak season and there really isn't any way of expansion.
The other factor is good old Mother Nature. No matter what 'we' put in place, a good wet season can turn things back overnight. You simply don't/can't mess with Mother Nature.

The next few years will be very interesting times.

Thats very true Ant. The only problem though is that we havnt had a decent wet for a while now. As for the types of vehicles we are getting up here now? A lot of them have caravans, i have even seen the 2wd wicked camper vans up here this year.

As time goes on Ant, you and i will be disappearing into the bush a lot more to visit our little spots that no one knows about.

[ant]

As time goes on Ant, you and i will be disappearing into the bush a lot more to visit our little spots that no one knows about.

Geoff,
You are dead right with that point. All the more reason to keep them 'secret'.

[Stacky]

This is going to be the year of a big wet. I can feel it in my bones (the walls of my house are already full of ants). We have all heard this before but this year is different, it's building up already round here, the clouds are so full they already have little bursts of rain (the west Claudie has risen a little).
Trees will be down, roads will be washed out, access will be very limited and it will take main roads all of next year to give those conventional vehicles access again (you will only see genuine equiped toyotas getting around for some time).
The big wet is coming.

[geoffjy]

This is going to be the year of a big wet. I can feel it in my bones (the walls of my house are already full of ants). We have all heard this before but this year is different, it's building up already round here, the clouds are so full they already have little bursts of rain (the west Claudie has risen a little).
Trees will be down, roads will be washed out, access will be very limited and it will take main roads all of next year to give those conventional vehicles access again (you will only see genuine equiped toyotas getting around for some time).
The big wet is coming.

I hope it as a big wet season this year, as long as we dont get an early one in December thats all. I prefer to be nice and dry while i am fishing and camping.

[xina]

You might see me up there in my Highace one day if that's the case Geoff. Just a shame it won't make it in to Temple Bay too.
Cheers,
xina.

[campdog]

I plan on driving my 1957 FE Holden up there one day, and no I wont be doing the tele treak and Nolans.John

[geoffjy]

i have done it in a magna sedan last year. Not the telegraph track of course. MAybe next time.:D

[geoffjy]

Mac Air flights from Cairns to Bamaga and return are now available to be booked on their website.

Their first flight is on the Sunday the 23rd November.

[geoffjy]

Mac Air havnt realeased the $150 fares yet but you can get them online right now for $219. Better than the $270 local fare with Regional Pacific.

[getin]

This is going to be the year of a big wet. I can feel it in my bones (the walls of my house are already full of ants). We have all heard this before but this year is different, it's building up already round here, the clouds are so full they already have little bursts of rain (the west Claudie has risen a little).
Trees will be down, roads will be washed out, access will be very limited and it will take main roads all of next year to give those conventional vehicles access again (you will only see genuine equiped toyotas getting around for some time).
The big wet is coming.

what a year to pick for our first trip to the cape,just how you like it, early may here we come;)

[xina]

i have done it in a magna sedan last year. Not the telegraph track of course. MAybe next time.:D

How did the car handle the Bulldust Geoff, or has the road changed so much that it's non-existant these days?
Cheers,
xina.

[geoffjy]

what a year to pick for our first trip to the cape,just how you like it, early may here we come;)

Just make sure you take plenty of pics with plenty of 4wd'ing and muddy bits.

[geoffjy]

How did the car handle the Bulldust Geoff, or has the road changed so much that it's non-existant these days?
Cheers,
xina.

When i drove it in the Magna, they had only just graded the roads all the way down the Cape so it was like a highway. Thats the only reason i took the car on the dirt road.

When i got back to the centre i still had some idiots in complaining about how rough the road was in their nice big brand new 4'by. They quietened down a bit when i told tem i had just driven down and back in the Magna.

[xina]

When i drove it in the Magna, they had only just graded the roads all the way down the Cape so it was like a highway. Thats the only reason i took the car on the dirt road.

When i got back to the centre i still had some idiots in complaining about how rough the road was in their nice big brand new 4'by. They quietened down a bit when i told tem i had just driven down and back in the Magna.

Wish I could have seen their faces.
Cheers,
xina.

[getin]

One of the tourism meetings i went to recently had a guest speaker from main roads. He said that every year they get funding of 20 million a year to maintain and seal the cape road. To think next year from Lakeland to LAura will be sealed. Its just a matter of time. .....maybe a call to arms from the 4wd fraternity to come and blockade the dozers and big machinery might be in order, it works for the greens.If you keep it pristine and rugged,you'll only get the true offroad crews and adventurers going up there,my 2 cents kev

[geoffjy]

Wish I could have seen their faces.
Cheers,
xina.


When i was driving down, i passed a 4wd camper. They couldnt stop staring at me as i drove past. I guess they thought it wasnt possible to drive down in a sedan.

[xina]

When i drove it in the Magna, they had only just graded the roads all the way down the Cape so it was like a highway. Thats the only reason i took the car on the dirt road.

When i got back to the centre i still had some idiots in complaining about how rough the road was in their nice big brand new 4'by. They quietened down a bit when i told tem i had just driven down and back in the Magna.

What month was that Geoff?
Cheers,
xina.

[geoffjy]

To think next year from Lakeland to LAura will be sealed. Its just a matter of time. .....maybe a call to arms from the 4wd fraternity to come and blockade the dozers and big machinery might be in order, it works for the greens.If you keep it pristine and rugged,you'll only get the true offroad crews and adventurers going up there,my 2 cents kev

No matter what people do, i is still going to get sealed. Saying that though, there will still be areas that you can go (private land) to get away from the mob. I think i like the look of the Kimberlies. Who knows, i might wind up there one day.

[geoffjy]

What month was that Geoff?
Cheers,
xina.

I drove down to Cairns on the 4th May 2007 in 13 hours (without stops).

[getin]

Just make sure you take plenty of pics with plenty of 4wd'ing and muddy bits.
will do geoffgy and of all the fish as well:)

[geoffjy]

will do geoffgy and of all the fish as well:)


Thats the way getin. When you get back, send them all to Camodog and Scorcher. I'm sure they will love it.:confused:

[plucker]

To think next year from Lakeland to LAura will be sealed. Its just a matter of time. .....maybe a call to arms from the 4wd fraternity to come and blockade the dozers and big machinery might be in order, it works for the greens.If you keep it pristine and rugged,you'll only get the true offroad crews and adventurers going up there,my 2 cents kev

Hope those greens and true offroad crews educate the tourists enough on how to remove your own rubbish.

[geoffjy]

Hope those greens and true offroad crews educate the tourists enough on how to remove your own rubbish.

Now that would be great to see. A cape with no rubbish lying around.

[getin]

Thats the way getin. When you get back, send them all to Camodog and Scorcher. I'm sure they will love it .i dont mind giving a nissan driver some schtick but scorchers one of us....well ,just until we meet anyhow

[geoffjy]

Thats the way getin. When you get back, send them all to Camodog and Scorcher. I'm sure they will love it .i dont mind giving a nissan driver some schtick but scorchers one of us....well ,just until we meet anyhow


Yeah, thats right isnt it. Just email them to Campdog then with a caption "Wishing you were here" Hehe. You can tell Scorcher where the fishing spots are.

[getin]

Yeah, thats right isnt it. Just email them to Campdog then with a caption "Wishing you were here" Hehe. You can tell Scorcher where the fishing spots are.hahahahahahha roflmao

[fishingal]

hey guys just got this emailed to me thought you might be interested

Media Release MacAir Cairns – Bamaga services take off 23 rd November MacAir Airlines will commence flights between Cairns and Northern Peninsula Area (formerly Bamaga) 23 rd November 2008. The service will initially operate on Sunday, with flights departing Cairns at 1030 and arriving into Bamaga at 1230, departing Bamaga at 1300 returning to Cairns at 1500. Additional weekday flights are planned to be introduced according to demand for travel between these destinations. The services will be operated by a SAAB 340B aircraft – a fast, pressurized aircraft offering cabin class services and comfort. MacAir currently also operates SAAB 340B aircraft to Kowanyama and Edward River in Cape York. To celebrate the introduction of these services, MacAir will be offering ‘early bird’ fares, with flights starting from $150 each way. These special fares available for purchase online now, but for a limited time only so get in quick to avoid disappointment. MacAir Airlines are a Qantas Frequent Flyer partner, with points earned on all MacAir commercial services. MacAir flights can be booked online at www.macair.com.au, or with your preferred travel agent. [ENDS] Date: Tuesday, 4 November 2008 FOR BOOKING ENQUIRIES: P: 1800 622 247 MEDIA: Further information: Sarah Raymond, Head of Sales & Marketing MacAir Airlines Pty Ltd P: 07 47299411 E: sarah.raymond@macair.com.au


Enjoy the new open road (sky) to cape guys!!!!!
cheers
Al :D

[Stacky]

Thanks Fishinggal,
for us it couldn't have come at a better time.

[geoffjy]

hey guys just got this emailed to me thought you might be interested

Media Release MacAir Cairns – Bamaga services take off 23 rd November MacAir Airlines will commence flights between Cairns and Northern Peninsula Area (formerly Bamaga) 23 rd November 2008. The service will initially operate on Sunday, with flights departing Cairns at 1030 and arriving into Bamaga at 1230, departing Bamaga at 1300 returning to Cairns at 1500. Additional weekday flights are planned to be introduced according to demand for travel between these destinations. The services will be operated by a SAAB 340B aircraft – a fast, pressurized aircraft offering cabin class services and comfort. MacAir currently also operates SAAB 340B aircraft to Kowanyama and Edward River in Cape York. To celebrate the introduction of these services, MacAir will be offering ‘early bird’ fares, with flights starting from $150 each way. These special fares available for purchase online now, but for a limited time only so get in quick to avoid disappointment. MacAir Airlines are a Qantas Frequent Flyer partner, with points earned on all MacAir commercial services. MacAir flights can be booked online at www.macair.com.au, or with your preferred travel agent. [ENDS] Date: Tuesday, 4 November 2008 FOR BOOKING ENQUIRIES: P: 1800 622 247 MEDIA: Further information: Sarah Raymond, Head of Sales & Marketing MacAir Airlines Pty Ltd P: 07 47299411 E: sarah.raymond@macair.com.au


Enjoy the new open road (sky) to cape guys!!!!!
cheers
Al :D


Its all very good advertising that but i have asked and it is not up on their site in regards to the early bird fares. The starting price is $219 and they have no idea when they are bringing in the $150 ones.:confused:

Not that i'm complaining of course, $219 is a lot better than $270 with Regional Pacific.

[fishingal]

Hey Geoff,

I am sure Sarah would like to know if those cheap flights are not up there. I was speaking to her on Monday and she was under the impression they were there????

[geoffjy]

Hey Geoff,

I am sure Sarah would like to know if those cheap flights are not up there. I was speaking to her on Monday and she was under the impression they were there????

Ok. My partner booked a flight with them for the start of December but they told her that the $150 fares were not available and had to pay the $219 fare.

[fishingal]

Hi guys,

I got an email last night confirming the $150 flights. I tried to cut and paste to here for you but it wouldn't work. If anyone would like a copy just drop me an email at sales@capeyorker.com

Cheers
Al

[Stacky]

Hi guys,

I got an email last night confirming the $150 flights. I tried to cut and paste to here for you but it wouldn't work. If anyone would like a copy just drop me an email at sales@capeyorker.com.au

Cheers
Al

Hi Al,

I tried emailing you and it bounced back. So I have PM you instead.

Cheers,

[fishingal]

Hi guys,

sorry about that Stacky my email has no au (habit to add it I guess)
it sales@capeyorker.com

Cheers
Al

[Stacky]

Has Mac Air gone bust?

Another reliable service to Cape York.

My wife and i have 2 flights paid for in credit with them. Although i will chase it up, it sounds like we have lost that money.

[plucker]

Stacky I think they are trying to find creditors who will take over, but I do believe they were at least 10 large in the red and have folded.
Dont know where you stand with pre purchased tickets though. Good luck with that one.

[geoffjy]

Has Mac Air gone bust?

Another reliable service to Cape York.

My wife and i have 2 flights paid for in credit with them. Although i will chase it up, it sounds like we have lost that money.

I hadnt heard anything Ben, but then again i havnt had the opportunity to keep up with the latest info. I havnt exactly been near civilisation much over the last several weeks.

I will see what i can find out.

[geoffjy]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/01/30/2478525.htm

[plucker]

Announced today in the Sunday Mail, Skytrans is trying to pick up the slack left by Macair.
Dont know if the Cape is one of those places to get help, though Kowanyama and Edward River as well as Burketown and the Mt Isa leg were all mentioned, as targetted areas.
It was suggested to read the Skytrans webpage for updates.

[Stacky]

I wonder how the local people feel about Scare Trans flying into Bamaga. That is the plane that went down near Mt Tozer and took all those local families lives years ago, there are still a lot of Lockhart locals that are reluctant to fly with them.
I doubt if Scare Trans will service Bamaga.

[geoffjy]

I wonder how the local people feel about Scare Trans flying into Bamaga. That is the plane that went down near Mt Tozer and took all those local families lives years ago, there are still a lot of Lockhart locals that are reluctant to fly with them.
I doubt if Scare Trans will service Bamaga.

I cant remember exactly what the case was with that one. I know Aerotropics was the mian provider at that time. Were they hire/leasing the aircraft from Skytrans were they?

[geoffjy]

Well, it has been a while now and Skytrans is not doing the Cairns to Bamaga route like they are in other areas that MacAir operated. For the time being, the only airline doing this route is Regional Pacific Airlines.

Head Office

9/450 Sheridan St
Cairns, Qld 4870

Tel: (07) 4037 9200
Fax (07) 4032 1577


Reservations: 1300 797 667
Check in: 0488 401 403

Email: reservations@regionalpacific.com.au

Postal Address

PO Box 1156
North Cairns, Qld 4870