Qantas has today announced it will launch direct flights between Sydney and Gladstone from 4 March 2013, and increase capacity on regional NSW routes.

The new QantasLink service will operate eight return flights a week – including twice daily on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays – providing customers with access to almost 1,200 seats per week.

Qantas Domestic Chief Executive Officer Lyell Strambi said the new route will be introduced to satisfy growing corporate customer demand for direct services between Sydney and Gladstone.

“This announcement reaffirms our 31 year commitment to serving Gladstone, a commitment we’ve significantly grown over the past 12 months,” Mr Strambi said.

“Today QantasLink proudly provides customers from Gladstone with access to more destinations than any other airline, a new Qantas Regional Lounge and more seats at peak times through the introduction of Boeing 717 jet services to Brisbane.

“QantasLink will now service six ports directly from Gladstone – Sydney, Brisbane, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville and Cairns.”

The Sydney-Gladstone service will be operated by a new 74-seat Next-Generation Q400 aircraft, which will be the 28th Q400 to join QantasLink’s expanding fleet.

QantasLink also operates both 74-seat Q400 aircraft and 115-seat B717 aircraft to ladstone. At the beginning of 2012 a dedicated Qantas Regional Lounge was officially opened at Gladstone Airport with
seating for up to 80 passengers.

To celebrate the announcement of services between Sydney and Gladstone, QantasLink has launched a special one-way introductory fare of $79 for travel from 4 March 2013 to 31 August 2013*.

QantasLink also announced increased capacity across several key NSW routes:
• Dubbo – QantasLink will upgrade eight return services between Dubbo and Sydney from a 50 seat Q300 aircraft to a 74-seat Q400 aircraft. This will result in 384 additional seats offered on the route each week.
• Port Macquarie – Customers will be able to access an extra 88 seats each week for services between Port Macquarie and Sydney as a result of three Q300 aircraft services being upgraded to a Q400 aircraft.
• Wagga Wagga – On Sundays QantasLink will upgrade one return service from a 50 seat Q300 aircraft to a 74 seat Q400 aircraft.
• Albury – Albury-based customers will also benefit from one return service on Saturday being upgraded from a 50 seat Q300 aircraft to a 74 seat Q400 aircraft.

QantasLink customers can book fares on new direct Sydney-Gladstone services and additional seats on select Dubbo, Port Macquarie, Wagga Wagga and Albury services from today by visiting qantas.com.

*On sale from 12 September 2012 until 18 September 2012. Unless sold out prior. For travel from 4 March 2013 to 31 August 2013 on direct services between Sydney and Gladstone.