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The future of flights between a major regional city and Sydney is at risk, after a second airline in less than a year announced it was cancelling its service.
Key points:
- FlyPelican says it will stop operating out of Bathurst Airport on July 14, leaving the city with no airline
- Nearly 200,000 people descended on the city for last year's Bathurst 1000 event
- Community leaders say Sydney airport scheduling is a factor, and that it is unlikely another airline will fill the gap
FlyPelican began operating from Bathurst in New South Wales' Central West in September but has announced it is "no longer financially viable" to deliver an airlink.
In June last year, Regional Express withdrew its service for similar reasons.
The decision by FlyPelican means Bathurst Airport will lose its last commercial operator on July 14.
Mayor Robert Taylor says FlyPelican has faced numerous issues since taking over the flights.
"It is very disappointing that it has come to this, they didn't have enough bookings to make the service sustainable," Cr Taylor said.
"The biggest problem FlyPelican had was the time slots into Sydney which weren't very conducive to our travellers."
Bathurst has a population of more than 44,000 people.
Cr Taylor says he expects demand will grow in the future for flights into Sydney and other metropolitan areas.
"If the right airline with the right approach and advertising came along it could succeed and could have a regular service here," he said.
"The city is growing so I feel that if we got the time slots right there would be an opportunity for an airline to come into Bathurst and be sustainable."
The Bathurst Regional Council said it would try to attract another airline to run the flights to Sydney.
However, Cr Taylor said if that was not successful, they would run a shuttle bus to Orange Airport which has Qantas, Link Airways and Regional Express.
Community disappointment
Last year's Bathurst 1000 event was attended by more than 190,000 fans.
Bathurst Business Chamber president Paul Jones said without flights into the city, many people would be unable to attend major events.
"People rely on that air service, particularly when there are big races on, like the Bathurst 1000, the 12-hour and the six-hour [endurance events].
"People fly in for those events, so it will be disappointing for those people who may not be able to come unless someone puts charters on."
Mr Jones says he does not believe another airline will step in to bring the route back.
"It is going to be extremely challenging to find anyone who is willing to fly in and out of Bathurst return to Sydney going forward; it obviously isn't financially viable anymore."