Port Macquarie resident Chris Smith had three flight changes on QantasLink flights from Sydney to Port Macquarie over a number of months.

“When I am being offered a service, I expect a service,” he said.

“Why should I be inconvenienced just because it was convenient for them to shuffle us around?”

Mr Smith said he had considered taking the bus or train instead of flights.

He questioned how many other people had been impacted by the cuts.

QantasLink chief operating officer Jenny Chamberlain said performance on regional routes improved significantly as a result of the recent adjustments to the network and schedule.

“Our teams are focused on improving it further and ensuring this trend continues, with safety always our top priority,” she said.

QantasLink has adjusted its network and schedules with fewer flights during non-peak times but has used bigger planes. 

The schedule has been in place for about two months.

QantasLink is extending the adjustments for travel from March 25 through to late October 2018.

The airline will continue to review its network and schedule.

Meanwhile, a Virgin Australia spokesperson said in line with customer demand, Virgin Australia had reduced its Saturday schedule in March 2018 between Sydney and Port Macquarie from two services to one.

Virgin Australia operates two return services a day between Sydney and Port Macquarie during the week.

Senior consultant Fiona Young from Helloworld in Horton Street said there had been complaints about the flight changes, but when she explained the circumstances, people had been pretty good.

“I think they [passengers] have to re-look at their travel plans and maybe make changes accordingly,” she said.

QantasLink’s year-round schedule sees the airline operate 22 return services a week on the Sydney-Port Macquarie route.

The Virgin Australia schedule change will take the total number of services from 14 a week to 13.