QANTASLINK LAUNCHES NEW ROUTE WITH INAUGURAL PERTH-EXMOUTH SERVICE

PERTH, 30 March 2011: QantasLink today launched a new Western Australian route, when it operated its inaugural commercial service between Perth and Exmouth on the state’s Coral Coast.

The airline’s 115-seat Boeing 717 aircraft will operate three return services per week on the route – on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Qantas Regional General Manager Western Australia, Mr Ian Gay, said the flights would open up the region, and its key attractions of Ningaloo Reef and Coral Bay, to more visitors than ever, with nearly 700 more seats a week now available between Exmouth and Perth.

“These new QantasLink services have been timed to offer connections and through-check to and from major East Coast centres, providing simple and competitively priced links to both the Qantas’ domestic and international networks,” Mr Gay said.

“Bookings for the new services to date had been very encouraging since the announcement by the State Government that it would grant a second licence on the route, and we have been working hard on developing new market opportunities, particularly in association with our travel trade and tourism industry partners.

“The Shire of Exmouth and the local tourism industry have been very supportive and we look forward to making these services work for the local community and the business, mining and resources sectors.

“Locals know what the region has to offer, and the recent addition of the Ningaloo Reef to Tourism Australia’s National Landscape Program will further raise the profile of what is a beautiful, exciting and increasingly popular tourism destination.”

Mr Gay said the commencement of Exmouth services again confirmed the Qantas Group, across all of its flying brands, as the largest airline operating into and within Western Australia.

“With the addition of Exmouth, the Qantas Group’s Western Australia network now comprises nine destinations and we are in the process of significantly expanding our full service Western Australia operations.

“We have recently based an additional B737-800 aircraft in Perth which will add nearly 7,000 seats per week between Perth and Broome, Kalgoorlie, Karratha, Newman, Paraburdoo and Port Hedland.

“We will also increase capacity between Perth and Melbourne by more than 2,000 seats per week with the addition of four return services from 17 April, including three operated by A330-300 aircraft.”