Sharp Airlines to resume Melbourne – King Island route

By Andrew Curran.

Sharp Airlines will resume scheduled passenger flights between Melbourne Essendon (MEB) and King Island (KNS) after the Tasmanian Government stepped in to help restore the route, which the airline suspended in early May.

The regional carrier is yet to publish a timetable or confirm a firm start date, other than saying services will resume in October and operate up to six times a week during peak periods.

Sharp Airlines has also secured a five-year contract with Australia Post to carry mail to and from King Island, which lies in Bass Strait, around 270 kilometres south of Melbourne.

When Sharp Airlines announced it would withdraw from the route, it said the service was no longer commercially viable without government support. The island has remained connected to Melbourne through Regional Express (REX).

However, REX has also struggled to make its Bass Strait routes profitable, recently ending services between King Island and Burnie (BWT) in northern Tasmania.

Sharp Airlines works to restore King Island route

Earlier this month, Sharp Airlines said it was “actively working with key stakeholders” to keep King Island connected. The airline had operated the Melbourne route for 11 years before deciding to suspend it.

However, on June 24, the airline announced the return of passenger services and confirmed it had secured the Australia Post contract.

“Direct Melbourne (Essendon) – King Island services will return from October 2026 through to the end of April 2027, with up to six return services per week, secured with the support of the Tasmanian Government,” the airline said in a statement.

“The (Australia Post) agreement delivers long-term certainty for an essential service relied upon by residents, businesses and producers, and reinforces Sharp Airlines' commitment to supporting the island’s economy and community,” the statement added.

Bass Strait a small but evolving aviation market

The Bass Strait aviation market has become an interesting and contested arena in recent months. While REX and Sharp Airlines have cut some routes to and from King Island, Sharp Airlines launched King Island – Launceston (LST) services in early May, while Link Airways commenced Canberra (CBR) – Launceston flights around the same time.

The Tasmanian Government has become increasingly involved in securing additional flights to the state. King Island and Flinders Island, the two populated Bass Strait islands, are both part of Tasmania.

The government says it is committed to supporting Tasmanian airports and airlines to establish and expand domestic (and international) routes, increase capacity and frequency, and promote the state.

This week's announcement from Sharp Airlines coincided with the release of the Tasmanian Access Strategy 2040, which outlines how the state plans to grow and strengthen its air and sea connections through to 2040.

Flights essential for residents and a growing tourism sector

For residents of King and Flinders islands, flights to Melbourne and mainland Tasmania provide an essential public service, connecting communities with larger cities for healthcare, education and business.

Both islands also have growing tourism sectors. However, cost and access remain challenges and, as Sharp Airlines CEO Alistair Dorward notes, demand is highly seasonal, with most visitors wanting to travel during the summer months.

Dorward said that since suspending the Melbourne service, the airline had been actively working with the Tasmanian Government and other stakeholders to restore the route and ensure sufficient capacity was available to meet demand from both residents and visitors.

“King Island has been an important part of the Sharp Airlines network for generations,” he said.

“The award of the Australia Post contract and the return of Melbourne services this summer are a direct result of strong collaboration between Sharp Airlines, the Tasmanian Government and key stakeholders.”

While the current arrangement for scheduled passenger services only runs through to April next year, Dorward said the airline continues to work with the Tasmanian Government to secure a longer-term solution.