Qantas baggage changes make daily life harder for Christmas and Cocos island families

From 1 October, Qantas will only include a 23‑kilogram checked bag on its twice‑weekly flights to Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Any extra weight must be bought at the airport at $10.26 per kilogram, up from $3.33 – a rise of 208 percent.

Island residents rely on these flights to bring essential supplies that are not available locally, such as baby formula, nappies, and other everyday items. With no alternative carrier and no nearby town, the aircraft is the only practical way to transport these goods.

Federal MP for Lingiari, Marion Scrymgour, has written to Qantas chief executive Vanessa Hudson asking the airline to reverse the decision, saying the community was not consulted.

A Qantas spokesperson explained that the policy change is meant to manage aircraft weight, minimise baggage off‑loads, free up more seats for passengers, and ultimately boost tourism to the islands.

For island families, the higher price and lower allowance mean that bringing basic necessities becomes significantly more expensive, adding pressure to already high living costs and fueling community frustration.

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