QantasLink today announced it will introduce Fokker F100* jet services between Brisbane and Emerald from 4 June 2012. These new jet services will support Q400 services on the route whilst also providing cascaded growth across several key Queensland markets including Roma and Bundaberg.

QantasLink Executive Manager Narendra Kumar said QantasLink’s expansion of Queensland services would position the airline to cater for current and future growth in the region.

“We’ve listened to our customers who want access to more seats at peak times. The introduction of jet aircraft on Emerald, the repositioning of Q400 aircraft and the recent launch of additional B717s on key Queensland markets will allow QantasLink to meet customer demand.”

Alongside the introduction of 19 F100 jet services, QantasLink will also add four extra flights between Brisbane and Emerald taking the total number of return services on the route to 45 per week.

Additional Q400 aircraft services will benefit several key markets as follows:

– Increased flights between Brisbane and Roma with four additional services introduced to provide over 290 new seats per week.
– Customers travelling between Brisbane and Bundaberg will have access to an extra 392 seats per week.
– Customers travelling to and from Newcastle, Hervey Bay and Biloela will also benefit from extra seats becoming available on these markets.

QantasLink customers can book tickets on these new services from today by visiting qantas.com

*F100 services between Emerald and Brisbane will be operated on behalf of QantasLink by Alliance Airlines.

Background
QantasLink is Australia’s largest regional airline and was recently named Air Transport World’s Regional Airline of the Year 2012. QantasLink operates a network of 56 metropolitan and country destinations across all states and territories as well as to Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea.
QantasLink has significantly invested in the aircraft it operates with its current fleet of 58 aircraft to grow to 62 over the next 12 months. The airline’s fleet includes five Bombardier Q200, 16 Q300, 25 Q400 and 12 Boeing 717 aircraft.
QantasLink is also overseeing the operation of the Qantas Group’s Western Australian based resources charter airline Network Aviation. Its fleet of 13 aircraft is set to grow further, with the addition of six Fokker F100s this year.