Qantas Adds Melbourne And Sydney To Karratha Network

QANTAS Adds Melbourne and Sydney to Karratha Network

PERTH, 26 February 2010: Qantas today announced it would commence services from Melbourne and Sydney to the mining and energy resources hub of Karratha, in the state's North West, from May this year.

Group Executive Qantas Airlines Commercial, Mr Rob Gurney, said Qantas was pleased to add both Melbourne and Sydney to its existing Brisbane-Karratha service, completing an east coast triangle and offering weekly services from Karratha to Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.

"Qantas has been a leader in offering direct services to important Western Australian destinations," he said.

"We have been operating flights from Melbourne and Sydney to Broome for many years. We have also been operating direct Brisbane-Karratha services since November 2007, and Adelaide-Kalgoorlie services since March 2009, to meet demand from the mining and resource sector.

"We are committed to supporting the increasing demand for air travel in and out of Western Australia during this period of strong economic growth.

"The new schedules have been developed in consultation with key customers, and will also benefit residents of the North West who wish to travel directly to the east coast for both business and leisure."

Qantas new Karratha schedule, operated by B737-800 aircraft, will be:
* one weekly return Karratha-Melbourne service operating on Mondays;
* one weekly return Karratha-Sydney service operating on Thursdays; and
* one weekly return Karratha-Brisbane service operating on Tuesdays.

Mr Gurney said that Qantas recently announced an expansion of its fleet base in Perth to accommodate this extra capacity.

"We have expanded our fleet base in Perth to 11 aircraft, which includes five B737-800 aircraft and six B717- 200 aircraft, all servicing key destinations from both the eastern states and Perth," he said.

"From April, we will operate 48 services a week from Perth to Karratha, and this additional capacity will mean that we are operating 51 weekly services from four Australian capital cities to Karratha alone. In addition, we will service Kalgoorlie from both Adelaide and Perth 21 times each week.

"We will also be extending our intrastate network across Western Australia to offer 21 weekly return Perth- Paraburdoo services, 25 weekly return Perth-Port Hedland services, and 21 weekly return Perth-Newman services."

Qantas has invested $75 million in redeveloping Perth airport to accommodate increased traffic as a result of its capacity expansion, including a new stand-alone security screening facility, three additional baggage carousels, six new check-in counters, refurbishment of the Qantas Club and Chairmans Lounge, new widebody A330 aircraft capable aerobridge and the upgrade of a gate from B737 to B767 capability.

An introductory sale fare of $249*one-way Melbourne-Karratha is available until 9 March 2010 for travel 3 May31 August 2010, and Sydney-Karratha $249* one-way for travel 17 June-31 August 2010.

*All prices are inclusive of taxes and charges when booked on Qantas.com. Bookings made by agents may incur additional booking fees.

Issued by Qantas Corporate Communication (Q4023)
Media Enquiries:
Kristy McSweeney
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SOURCE: Qantas