Route <\/strong><\/td>| Start date <\/strong><\/td> | Frequency (return flights per week) <\/strong><\/td><\/tr> | Sydney \u2013 Griffith <\/td> | 1 Feb 2021 <\/td> | Daily <\/td><\/tr> | Melbourne \u2013 Newcastle <\/td> | 1 Feb 2021 <\/td> | Twelve <\/td><\/tr> | Melbourne \u2013 Merimbula <\/td> | 1 Feb 2021 <\/td> | Four <\/td><\/tr> | Melbourne \u2013 Mount Gambier <\/td> | 28 March 2021 <\/td> | Five <\/td><\/tr> | Melbourne \u2013 Wagga Wagga <\/td> | 28 March 2021 <\/td> | Four <\/td><\/tr> | Melbourne \u2013 Albury <\/td> | 28 March 2021 <\/td> | Four <\/td><\/tr> | Adelaide \u2013 Mount Gambier <\/td> | 28 March 2021 <\/td> | Five <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n | Qantas is offering special fares for flights on the new routes from $125 one-way, available at qantas.com or through Travel Agents, until 20 December 2020, unless sold out prior. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The flights will largely be operated by the airline\u2019s 50-seat Q300 turboprop aircraft, with upgraded cabin interiors, adding more than 320,000 seats to these regional destinations each year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Qantas has already introduced a number of initiatives to encourage\u00a0customers to book with\u202f greater flexibility,\u00a0as well as to improve safety and peace-of-mind when travelling domestically through its\u202f Fly Well program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ADDITIONAL FLIGHTS<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n – Melbourne-Gold Coast weekly flights will double \u2013 from daily to twice daily \u2013 from April 2021 with the new schedule to cater for both corporate and leisure travellers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n – Sydney-Orange flights will increase from three days per week to daily from February 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n – Melbourne-Launceston flights will be upgraded from a Q400 aircraft to a larger Boeing 717, adding more than 400 seats on the route each week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n – A number of seasonal routes originally scheduled for the summer have been extended to operate year-round, including Perth-Hobart, Canberra-Hobart, Sydney-Merimbula\u00a0and Brisbane-Port Macquarie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n QantasLink CEO John Gissing said these new routes were a great opportunity for travellers to explore the best of regional Australia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs the national carrier, we have an important role to play in driving tourism and supporting the industry\u2019s recovery,\u201d said Mr Gissing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBefore COVID, more than 11 million Australians travelled overseas each year, so these flights will help convert some of these international trips into domestic holidays instead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe know there is significant pent up demand for travel. These new flights will help more Australians explore some of the incredible places in their own backyard and drive tourism, which is so vital to the local economies of regional areas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ll be promoting these new flights to millions of our frequent flyers across the country in the lead up to the flights commencing next year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re also pleased to be able to offer locals more choice and competitive fares on these routes, most of which have been monopolies for years.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Since domestic border restrictions started to ease in July, Qantas has announced or commenced flying on 13 new routes across Australia. Today\u2019s announcement brings that number to 20. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Qantas has been progressively \u201cwaking up\u201d its domestic and regional aircraft to support this new flying, with the vast majority of the airline\u2019s regional fleet expected to be operational by early 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAll our aircraft carry fixed costs, regardless of whether they\u2019re grounded or not. We\u2019d rather get as many aircraft back in the air as we can because it\u2019s better for our business, our customers and gets more of our people back to work,\u201d added Mr Gissing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Qantas flights continue to have complimentary baggage and food and drink included with every seat. The airline has now opened 30 of its 35 domestic and regional lounges across its network. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Today is the last day to register for Qantas\u2019\u00a0Status Fast Track\u00a0initiative that has seen thousands of members from other airlines\u00a0switching to Qantas Frequent Flyer\u00a0to take advantage of the national carrier\u2019s extensive lounge and flying network.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n |
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