QantasLink will increase its services in regional Queensland, announcing plans to base two newly acquired Boeing 717s in Brisbane from early 2012, and adding Townsville-Moranbah services to its network.
Qantas’s regional arm has yet to annouce on what services the 115-seat 717s will operate in Queensland, but the new Townsville to Moranbah service will operate twice weekly using Q400s, while QantasLink will also increase services between Brisbane and Moranbah from October 17 to better serve the Bowen Basin coal fields.
The recent delivery of a new 74-seat Q400 will allow QantasLink to increase frequencies to Emerald by two per week to 38, while flights between Cairns and Weipa will be increased by two new weekly services. The airline will also upgrade to Q300 equipment on Roma and Charleville services, while a Qantas Regional Lounge will be opened at Emerald for Qantas Club and Platinum and Gold Qantas Frequent Flyer members.
“QantasLink has continued to respond to regional Queensland communities who rely on air services by introducing a new schedule that connects them with Brisbane and beyond,” said Kumar. “These new services will also support Queensland’s booming resource sector which will benefit through the link these services will provide to key mining centres across the state.”
QantasLink currently has a fleet of 25 Q400s, 16 Q300s, 11 717s and five Dash 8 Q200s.
