Local residents shouldn't worry that Qantas will today miss a deadline for the return to normal flight scheduling, according to Barnaby Joyce.
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And the Member for New England revealed yesterday he is in constant Whatsapp contact with Virgin Australia owners Bain Capital, who have assured him they will look after flights in regional Australia.
In early June Qantas announced it intended to triple to six the number of weekly flights from Tamworth to Sydney by the end of June.
Despite a winding down of COVID-19 restrictions, just four flights are leaving Tamworth for Sydney this week.
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But Barnaby Joyce said it wasn't a sign of a reluctance to return to normal.
"One thing [airlines] all have in common; they all want to make money and four planes make money."
Mr Joyce has also been busy lobbying Australia's other major airline, Virgin.
American private investment firm Bain Capital last week emerged as the final bidder for Australia's second airline, which went into administration in April.
When its aircraft next leave the hanger, Virgin is expected to be a leaner airline focused on a tighter network of air routes.
But Barnaby Joyce said concerns the venture capital company would cut back regional routes are unfounded.
"Bain Capital has also approached me and spoken to me, in fact they talk to me quite constantly on Whatsapp," he said.
"They assure me they're going to look after regional flights.
"Now that they're successful [in bidding for the company] I'll be holding them to it."
A spokesperson for Qantas confirmed the airline is operating four weekly return flights between Tamworth and Sydney "with plans to increase frequency as demand grows".
The airline has yet to announce a launch date for the Brisbane to Tamworth route.
Virgin Australia was contacted for this story but didn't respond before deadline.
