The Mackay Port Authority has held talks with low-cost carrier Virginblue in a bid to secure an early morning Brisbane service for the city.

Qantas has announced it will withdraw the 6 a.m. Mackay-Brisbane flight with the introduction of its budget subsidiary Jetstar in May.

Negotiations are underway between MPA and Virgin Blue to fill the 6am service from Mackay.

Jetstar will replace the week-day service with an 8 a.m. flight from Mackay.

Mackay Mayor Julie Boyd has called a meeting with the business community and tourism leaders to discuss Qantas’ move to drop the service. The meeting will be held tomorrow.

Meantime, Mackay Port Authority chairman John Taylor and acting CEO Trevor Heard held talks with key Virgin executives in Brisbane yesterday.

“Virgin is examining the possibility of starting a 6 a.m. service – but at the end of the day it has to examine where best to place its aircraft in terms of financial return and capacity,” Mr Heard said.

“Underwriting was discussed but that’s a matter for the Mackay City Council and the chamber of commerce to consider.

“The Mackay Port Authority has been doing our bit to encourage new services to Mackay. In the past 30 months we have paid the airlines more than $3 million dollars in incentives and rebates.”

Mr Heard said the issue of underwriting the 6 a.m. service was expected to be a hot topic at tomorrow's meeting.