With holidays in our own backyard being more sought after than ever before, Qantas has added three new routes to its domestic flight schedule as the major airline seeks to set up new travel corridors while the international flight market remains frozen.
The airline hopes to capitalise on pent-up demand for domestic travel while overseas destinations remain off-limits due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Australian airline announced on Friday that from next month, the three new routes will be between Melbourne and Coffs Harbour, Brisbane and Coffs Harbour, and Canberra to the ever popular Byron Bay.
The announcement comes just two months after the airline announced seven new routes in December including Melbourne to Wagga Wagga, Merimbula, Mount Gambier, Albury and Newcastle.
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Qantas has added three more domestic routes to its flight schedule. Picture: Christian Gilles/NCA NewsWireSource:Supplied
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According to QantasLink CEO John Gissing, the new routes will go on sale from $129 one way, and provide Australians with more options to explore more of Australia’s own backyard.
“With international borders closed, we want to make it even easier for travellers to holiday around Australia,” said Mr Gissing.
“The beautiful coastal hubs of Byron Bay and Coffs Harbour continue to be incredibly popular with travellers, so it makes sense to provide direct connections from other capital cities to make them even more accessible.
“These new flights are good news for local businesses, hospitality and tour operators, helping drive tourism and reviving the industry that has been hurting from COVID-19.”
Currently, Qantas operates up to 20 return flights per week between Sydney and Ballina Byron Bay and 28 weekly return flights between Sydney and Coffs Harbour.
Flights between Byron Bay and Canberra will be part of the new network.Source:Supplied
Flights from Melbourne and Brisbane to Coffs Harbour are also part of the new network. Picture: Dallas Kilponen/Destination NSWSource:Supplied
The newly announced routes will have the following schedule in 2021:
– Melbourne to Coffs Harbour – flights will operate daily with Qantas’ Boeing 717 aircraft.
– Brisbane to Coffs Harbour – flights will operate four days per week with the turboprop Q400 aircraft.
– Canberra to Byron Bay – Qantas’ first ever direct service connecting the two destinations, offering two flights per week with the turboprop Q400 aircraft. Flights will initially operate in April and Qantas will look to continue the service from July in line with demand.
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