Jetstar to Ayers Rock. Tiger to Alice Springs: Travel boon for Central Australia

Lower fares are coming to Australia's Red Centre.

Airfares to the red centre of Australia are set to fall with Jetstar and Tiger Airways Australia both announcing new flights to the region within a week of one another. Tiger announced last week that it would start flights from Melbourne and Sydney to Alice Springs from April 9, while Jetstar yesterday said it would begin operating Sydney-Uluru flights from June 4.

Uluru is currently serviced by Qantas and Virgin Australia but Qantas has been losing money on its direct flights from Sydney to the predominantly leisure destination. It will cease the Sydney flights on June 3, although there will still be a daily service between Alice Springs and Cairns. It will also cut direct flights from Canberra to Darwin.

Jetstar calculates its four-times weekly flights will provide 1400 seats a week on the route and launched them with special sale fares of $119 one way and lead-in everyday fares of $179.

Jetstar Australia & New Zealand chief executive David Hall said low fares would help drive further tourism growth.

Tiger launched its four weekly services to Alice Springs with fares of $99.95 after strong demand for its return from local residents. The airline said its new services would provide more than 5000 additional visitor seats weekly through Alice Springs airport.