QantasLink was due to resume services into and out of Rockhampton when the airport reopens today.
The airline had suspended operations when Rockhampton Airport became closed to all airlines due to excessive flooding on January 1. QantasLink executive manager Narendra Kumar said the airline “was able to maintain services across its Queensland network” while the airport was closed, and it was with caution that limited flights out of Rockhampton were being re-introduced. “The aftermath of Queensland’s devastating floods will be felt by the state for many weeks and months to come,” Kumar said.
“Based on the careful assessment of Rockhampton Regional Council, as well as our own people, we will resume services linking Rockhampton to Brisbane, Cairns, Gladstone, Mackay and Townsville from first flight, QF2362 between Brisbane and Rockhampton, scheduled to arrive at 8.00am, on 24 January.
“Flights will initially be limited to daytime hours due to runway limitations. This will mean a reduced schedule over two days, however we will operate our larger and faster 74-seat Q400 aircraft on all sectors to provide as many seats as possible.
“Night time operations are scheduled to resume on 26 January, with a full schedule of mainly Q400 flights to be in place from 31 January.”
From January 31, QantasLink will operate on a weekly basis 46 return flights between Rockhampton and Brisbane, nine return flights between Rockhampton and Brisbane via Gladstone; and 14 return flights from Rockhampton north to Mackay, Townsville and Cairns.
Kumar also said that Qantas had made a donation of $500,000 to the Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal, and expects to donate a further $500,000 following the Australia v England cricket match in Brisbane on January 30.
