QantasLink to Increase Regional NSW Services

QantasLink is to expand its flying schedule to a number of regional NSW ports from March 2010, when the airline takes delivery of its 19th 74-seat Bombardier Q400 aircraft.

"The Q400 is the flagship of our QantasLink fleet and we are very proud to take delivery of our 19th Q400 aircraft, and base it in NSW to give more of our customers access to this state-of-the-art regional aircraft and a premium flying experience," said QantasLink Executive Manager, Mr Narendra Kumar.

Tthe new schedule will see an additional 142,000 seats offered each year by QantasLink on a number of NSW routes, creating further travel opportunities for regional communities and benefitting local business and tourism operators. These included:

- the introduction of Q400 services to Wagga with 20 out of 26 weekly return flights being upgraded from 50-seat Q300 to 74-seat Q400 aircraft, resulting in an increase of 460 seats on the route each week;

- an additional five Q400 Coffs Harbour-Sydney return services each week departing Coffs Harbour at 4:05pm on weekdays, resulting in an increase of 788 seats on the route each week;

- an additional five 50-seat Q300 Port Macquarie-Sydney return services each week departing Port Macquarie at 3.30pm on weekdays, resulting in an increase of 500 seats on the route each week;

- an additional five 50-seat Q300 Tamworth-Sydney return services each week departing Tamworth at 12:10pm on weekdays, resulting in an increase of 500 seats on the route each week; and

- an additional five 50-seat Q300 Armidale-Sydney return services each week departing Armidale at 8:40am on weekdays, resulting in an increase of 500 seats on the route each week.

QantasLink has invested over $600 million in 21 new Q400 aircraft since 2006. These aircraft will operate alongside the airline's fleet of five Q200, 16 Q300 and 11 Boeing 717 aircraft, currently providing around 1800 flights each week to 53 metropolitan and regional destinations throughout Australia.

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