QantasLink, the workhorse of Australia’s regional aviation industry, has been named 2012’s ‘Regional Airline of the Year’ by leading industry journal Air Transport World – beating airlines from across the globe.
Air Transport World editors cited QantasLink’s longstanding commitment to delivering an extensive network and excellent customer service for remote and rugged regions of outback Australia.
Chief Editor of Air Transport World, Geoffrey Thomas said, “QantasLink is more than a regional airline. It’s a lifeline to millions of Australians who live sometimes thousands of kilometres from a capital city and hundreds of kilometres from the nearest town.”
“QantasLink is many things to many people. It carries tourists to resorts; farmers, social workers, teachers, medical staff and resource industry workers to the outback; and even politicians to and from the nation’s capital Canberra and has a product to match every need.”
QantasLink Executive Manager Narendra Kumar said he was extremely proud of the award win, which recognised the efforts of the entire QantasLink team.
“QantasLink has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1949 when it was a one aircraft operation based in Tamworth. Today QantasLink is Australia’s largest regional carrier operating 57 aircraft to support a network of 56 metropolitan and country destinations and providing customers with seamless connections to Qantas’ domestic and international services.”
“As a service-focused airline, QantasLink teams work collaboratively with regional Australian communities to identify and enhance air services in markets that require this essential service for both commerce and leisure,” he said.
“In recent times QantasLink has made large-scale investments in product and aircraft to service the needs of our customers. Many of our services have become critical elements of regional customer supply chains, transporting labour into major resource projects via connections through the extensive Qantas network,” Mr Kumar said.
Mr Kumar will formally accept the award on behalf of QantasLink at an official awards ceremony to be hosted by Air Transport World in Singapore on 13 February 2012.
Background
QantasLink
As the country’s largest regional airline, QantasLink is embedded in regional Australia. QantasLink has network of 56 metropolitan and country destinations across all states and territories and to Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea.
QantasLink has invested significantly in the aircraft it operates with its current fleet of 57 aircraft to grow to 62 over the next 12 months. The airline’s fleet currently includes five Bombardier Q200, 16 Q300, 25 Q400 and 11 Boeing 717 aircraft.
QantasLink is also overseeing the operation of the Qantas Group’s Western Australian resources charter airline Network Aviation. Its fleet of nine aircraft is set to grow further, with the addition of 10 Fokker F100s during 2012.
Air Transport World
Air Transport World (www.ATWOnline.com) is the leading monthly magazine serving the airline and commercial aircraft manufacturing and support industries. It launched its awards program in 1974. ATW is published by Penton Media.
As a leading, independent, business-to-business media company, Penton knows business and how to create and disseminate the vital content that moves markets. Penton is where professionals turn to gain the critical insight, expert analysis, and relevant connections needed to compete and succeed. Headquartered in New York City, the privately held company is owned by MidOcean Partners and U.S. Equity Partners II, an investment fund sponsored by Wasserstein & Co., LP, and its co-investors. For additional information on the company and its businesses, visit www.penton.com.