Tasmanian Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson will write to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission early next week to ask for an investigation into QantasLink’s high Launceston cancellation rates. 

Senator Whish-Wilson alleges that the high cancellation rate, and passengers subsequently being moved onto Jetstar flights, may be misleading and deceptive conduct.

A Qantas spokesman said the allegations were unfounded. 

“As customers would expect, Qantas takes its obligations under Australian consumer law very seriously,” he said. “Any suggestion that we publish flights that we don’t intend to operate is wrong.”

QantasLink cancelled 3.7 per cent of its Launceston flights in the six months to March, compared to 0.2 per cent for Jetstar and 0 per cent for Virgin Australia.

A Greens spokesman said the party wanted the ACCC to investigate whether the cancellations are beyond weather or maintenance issues and if “the airline are breaching any consumer law”. 

Mr Whish-Wilson said he believed cancellations were systemic and that people moved onto Jetstar flights were not receiving the service they paid for. 

“I have heard many cases of QantasLink cancelling flights and putting people on Jetstar routes,” he said.

“Is this a systemic decision to take pilots and crew out of Launceston and instead put people on Jet Star flights? I believe it is.”

Launceston Airport general manager Paul Hodgen said he believed QantasLink cancellation rates were improving.

“I think they’re making every effort to address staffing issues as quickly as possible,” he said.