Charter operator Corporate Air is expanding into regular public transport (RPT) operations from April, with Brisbane-Coffs Harbour the inaugural route.
Canberra-based Corporate Air has been operating since 1972 and has established Fly Corporate for its RPT services that will be flown with a fleet of four Saab 340Bs and two 19-seat Metro 23 turboprops.
Brisbane-Coffs Harbour will be flown with 34-seat Saab 340Bs and Fly Corporate plans to offer a return service on weekdays – a morning departure from Coffs Harbour and late afternoon departure from Brisbane – to allow travellers from the NSW Mid North Coast to have a full day in Brisbane and return home the same day.
There will also be one flight on Saturdays (Coffs Harbour-Brisbane) and one on Sundays (Brisbane-Coffs Harbour), the company said.
It will be the only airline flying nonstop between Coffs Harbour and Brisbane when flights commence on April 11. Qantas, Tigerair Australia and Virgin Australia fly to Coffs Harbour from Melbourne and Sydney.
Fly Corporate chief executive Andrew Major encouraged the local community to support the new route.
“It has been a pleasure to work with the staff at Coffs Harbour City Council in developing plans to introduce the service,” Major said in a statement.
“We are extremely pleased to be able to provide this service connecting Coffs Harbour and Brisbane and we hope that both communities get behind it and support it.”
Coffs Harbour City Council airport manager Dennis Martin said Fly Corporate offered the city and wider region a “valuable new travel link”.
“More importantly the company has a flight timetable that is appealing for business travel because it allows for passengers to get to and from Brisbane and have the day to conduct their business. That’s tremendously important for potential growth and economic development,” Martin said in a statement.
