The nation's largest airline is facing backlash for its decision to cut Top End flights because of grim tourism forecasts, with many suggesting the company's ticket prices are causing the visitor shortfall.

Key points: Qantas and Jetstar said they cut Darwin flights because tourist numbers were dropping

Qantas and Jetstar said they cut Darwin flights because tourist numbers were dropping But the NT Tourism Minister said the $103m tourism stimulus package was succeeding

But the NT Tourism Minister said the $103m tourism stimulus package was succeeding Residents suggested the airlines drop ticket prices to stimulate tourism

Yesterday Qantas and Jetstar pointed to the Territory's ailing tourism sector as they announced 35 return flights from Darwin between April and late June this year had been cut.

This will include Qantas routes to Sydney and Brisbane and Jetstar routes to Melbourne, Adelaide and Cairns.

Qantas said the decision was based on a decline in demand, which it put down to a reduction in corporate travel and the wind-down of the Inpex gas plant's construction phase.

It said there had been a 10 per cent drop in demand in domestic flights to and from Darwin in recent months, and expected the trend to continue until the end of June.

Recent tourism figures placed the Territory's tourism sector as the worst in the nation.

Qantas domestic chief executive officer Andrew David said flights during the peak of the dry season would remain unchanged.

"We have seen a decline in demand for interstate travel to Darwin, particularly from the east coast," Mr David said.

"So we'll be reducing the frequency of flights on a number of routes between April and the end of June.

"In order to get more people to holiday in Darwin, Alice and other parts of the Territory, we need all the key players to work together — Government, Tourism NT, airlines, airports and local industry."

In November last year, Qantas scrapped direct flights from Cairns to Alice Springs and Darwin.

It also cut five weekly flights from Perth to Alice Springs and four from Perth to Darwin.

However Qantas also added two weekly flights from Darwin and Adelaide to Uluru, and a new discount program for Alice Springs residents flying to Darwin.

'We are succeeding'

But NT Tourism Minister Lauren Moss maintained that her Government's multi-million-dollar tourism stimulus package was succeeding.

The package was announced last year in a bid to stimulate the economy by accelerating tourism growth.

"We know our $103 million Turbocharging Tourism stimulus is already attracting more visitors to the Territory," she said.

"This investment was designed to immediately attract more tourists and business travellers to the NT, injecting more money into the economy and mitigating some of the impact of the Inpex Ichthys project's transition from construction to operations.

"Airline schedules and airfares are a commercial decision for airlines — we are succeeding on building holiday visitor demand for air services through our Turbocharging Tourism stimulus package and will continue to build momentum for the NT."

Head of NT Airports Ian Kew was similarly confident, saying the cuts were only temporary and demand would return.

"Qantas have been upfront with us and we understand why they have made this decision," he said.

"It's only a temporary reduction of capacity from markets where we've seen a lot of business traffic that's fallen off."

Last year Qantas claimed the fees and charges at Darwin and Alice Springs made them the most expensive airports in the country.

Asked if he would consider dropping those fees in a bid to attract more flight options, Mr Kew said he would not as it would not make any difference to customer ticket prices.

Removing the ban on cabotage — international carriers flying passengers on domestic routes — was another suggested way of increasing Top End tourism numbers.

The Federal Government canvassed lifting those restrictions in 2015, but unions and other carriers raised concerns about the repercussions.

'Lower the price so people can afford to fly here'

Yet on social media, users overwhelmingly argued that airlines were to blame for the falling tourism numbers because they charged so much for tickets.

Some said Qantas and Jetstar should consider dropping those fares, to bring more travellers onto their flights.

Lower the price so people can actually afford to fly here and you might see an increase in ticket demand. — Rachael Warwick

Wont be long now until we see some hotel closure stories coming through. Hotel room prices are so over priced in the NT — Tim Tee

Doesn't help the fact it's sooo expensive to fly to Darwin why would anyone go there when you can go to Fiji for the same cost ! — Natalie Louise

Perhaps they can put on more, reasonably priced flights between Perth and Adelaide (or Melbourne). — Nigel Gold

Maybe if they made it reasonably priced to fly there people may go more thus needing more flights! — Stu Johnson

It's sad, but that is the economics of business. Private enterprise is a business not a charity. — Adam C Smith

Not good. I work Remote as many of my nursing colleagues do, and getting flights out or into Darwin have always been a headache. Now when I am desperate to get home on my next break, I fear the lack of flights will reduce the amount of time at home with my husband. The red eye flights are always packed out — Judith Munro

If we continue to reduce services to and in Darwin, we will quickly be reduced to a failed state so it is up to the NT Government to develop plans and put evacuation processes in place to relocate its citizens to interstate cities that support business and citizens. — Ray Andersson

It cost me $600 to fly from Townsville return, could have gone to Hawaii but I love travelling to the territory — Lynne Key

If accommodation wasn't so expensive during that time along with the flights, demand might be different... — Julie Williams

Its funny how people still think that Darwin should have the same services as say Melb or Sydney when there is less than one third the population of cities such as Newcastle. Its simply about numbers of bums on seats and Darwin will never get the service of even provincial cities — Mark Callaghan