Flights secured between King Island and Melbourne (Essendon) for peak season
Sharp Airlines, King Island
Nick H. Visuals
A welcomed boost for King Island
Additional capacity between Melbourne (Essendon) and King Island has been secured for the 2026/27 summer season, giving the island's visitor economy certainty heading into its busiest months.
From October 2026 to the end of April 2027, Sharp Airlines will operate up to six return services a week between Melbourne and King Island. It's a welcome boost after Rex Airlines’ Melbourne - Burnie - King Island route ceased operations earlier this year.
Capacity where demand is greatest
The new schedule has been built in partnership with Sharp Airlines and shaped by previous passenger demand and seasonal travel patterns, so services land when they're needed most.
That includes ramping up capacity around key events like the King Island Festival, and over the Christmas and Easter holiday periods, while retaining flexibility to add further services if bookings run ahead of expectations.
King Island is a highly valued regional destination, known for its top ranked golf and awarding winning produce, food and accommodation. Reliable access from mainland Australia matters for visitors, businesses and the broader community alike, and this new capacity gives operators something solid to plan around heading into the 2026/27 summer season.
Sharp Airlines Melbourne (Essendon) to King Island schedule
- October to early November 2026: four services a week
- Mid November to mid December 2026: five services a week
- Late December 2026 to March 2027: six services a week
- April 2027: five services a week
Bookings, the full schedule and fare details are available at sharpairlines.com.au.