BRISBANE, Thursday 11 April 2013: QantasLink today unveiled its new engineering and maintenance hangar at Brisbane Airport, creating vital engineering jobs and strengthening its ongoing commitment to Queensland.

QantasLink has invested $5 million in the hangar which will create 20 engineering jobs to service QantasLink’s expanding fleet of Bombardier Q400, Q300 and Q200 aircraft.

Speaking at the unveiling of the hangar, QantasLink Executive Manager John Gissing said this reinforces QantasLink’s continued investment in Queensland and the future of aircraft engineering in Queensland

“I am delighted to announce today that as part of our investment in the new QantasLink hangar, we have also created 20 engineering jobs to be based right here in Brisbane,” Mr Gissing said.

“It is also in addition to last year’s announcement of the $4.8 million upgrade to the Qantas gate lounges in Brisbane Airport to support the huge growth the airline has experienced in Brisbane over recent years

“This also comes on top of the $30 million that Qantas is investing in upgrading its heavy maintenance engineering facilities in Brisbane and the 227 engineering jobs created as Qantas consolidates its heavy maintenance into Brisbane.

“This strengthens our commitment to Queensland and shows that we are investing in the future of aircraft engineering in Australia.”

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said he welcomed the Qantas Group’s ongoing investment in Queensland’s future

“The $5 million investment for a new hangar will increase facilities, boost employment opportunities and support our vital mining, agriculture and tourism industries,” Mr Emerson said

“I am pleased one of Australia’s most iconic brands continues to expand and grow its Queensland facilities and opportunities.

The Qantas Group employs more than 5,000 people in Queensland and its primary maintenance base is located in Brisbane. Qantas is also moving its major catering operations into a new $70 million purpose-built facility in Brisbane.

QantasLink is Australia’s largest regional airline and operates a network of 58 metropolitan and country destinations across Australia as well as to Port Moresby. QantasLink operates more than 900 services per week in Queensland to 21 destinations across the State.

QantasLink has invested heavily in regional Queensland, having expanded capacity by almost 90 per cent over the past five years.