Jetstar confirms the end of Q300 regional New Zealand routes

Jetstar has confirmed it will cease its regional Q300 Bombardier services in New Zealand at the end of November 2019. Gareth Evans, Jetstar’s Chief Executive Officer, said the confirmation comes after a consultation period with affected employees.  “We’ve been consulting with our team members over the past few weeks and today we’re confirming our proposal to end flying on our regional turboprop routes,” said Mr Evans. “As we explained when we announced our proposal in September, this decision is based on our regional operations continuing to be loss making, combined with higher costs and a softening of the regional travel market.”

Mr Evans acknowledged that regional travellers would be disappointed to hear the final decision. “I’d like to thank our regional team members and our loyal regional travellers and stakeholders for all their support. We gave this network a real go over the past four years, but the commercial numbers just don’t stack up to keep operating.”

More airline consolidation as Jetstar announces a withdrawal from regional flying in New Zealand from the end of November

More airline consolidation was on the cards today as Jetstar announced it was to end its regional Q300 turboprop services in New Zealand at the end of November 2019.

After less than five years, the airline is proposing to call a halt to the up to 130 return services a week it flies during peak season across five routes – Auckland and Nelson, Napier, New Plymouth and Palmerston North and flights between Nelson and Wellington.

 The airline cites a reduction in regional traffic and increased costs as the main reason for the withdraw.  Gareth Evans, Jetstar’s Chief Executive Officer said “The New Zealand regional market is facing some headwinds, with softer demand and higher fuel costs and we don’t see the outlook changing any time soon. As a result, we’re announcing a proposal today to end our regional services, with the final flights on 30 November this year,” 

Beaming in Bendigo........QantasLink to start new service from Sydney

Photo QantasLink

Everyone is beaming in Bendigo this week as QantasLink, the regional operation of national carrier Qantas, confirmed it was to launch direct flights between Bendigo and Sydney, saving hours of travel time for both business and leisure travellers.

The new flights will be the first-ever regular passenger services between the two cities and the first commercial services from Bendigo in more than 30 years. 

QantasLink will operate flights six days per week, from March 31st, using 50-seat Q300 turboprop aircraft, with flights increasing to a daily service over the peak summer season. In total Qantas will be offering more than 30,000 seats on the route each year, much to the delight of both business and leisure passengers. 

To mark the announcement, QantasLink flew one of its Q300 turboprop aircraft to Bendigo for a ceremony with the local community on Monday, December 10th.  QantasLink CEO John Gissing said the new Bendigo flights reinforced the national carrier’s commitment to supporting regional Victoria. “As Australia’s largest regional airline, we know we have an important role to play in connecting communities and making air travel more accessible,” said Mr Gissing. "No airline has ever offered regular passenger flights between Bendigo and Sydney– so these flights are a win for both travellers and tourism."

QantasLink shows off cabin upgrades

QantasLink’s first upgraded turboprop aircraft will today take to the skies with a refreshed cabin and greater comfort for the airline’s regional customers.

The upgraded Q300 turboprop was unveiled this morning at QantasLink’s hangar facility at Tamworth Airport, the airline’s hub for regional aircraft maintenance. The program to upgrade the fleet of 45 Bombardier Q200, Q300 and Q400 aircraft is expected to be completed by the end of 2019.

Passengers onboard flight QF2003 from Tamworth to Sydney will be the first QantasLink customers to fly on the upgraded turboprop.

The fleet upgrade is part of a multi-million dollar commitment to providing regional passengers with a better overall travel experience.