The resurgence in domestic tourism during the pandemic has had many unintended consequences, with one of those opening the way for Qantas revive an old flight route for the first time in seven years.
From 17 September, QantasLink will operate up to seven weekly return flights between Proserpine on the Whitsunday Coast and Brisbane, with its 74-seat Q400 turboprop aircraft adding more than 1000 seats on the route each week.
It follows the new routes QantasLink started from Brisbane to Albury and Cooma in recent weeks.
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Between Qantas, QantasLink and Jetstar, the group has now launched more than 45 new routes since international borders closed, around half of which are into Queensland.
QantasLink chief executive John Gissing said the new route would create stronger connections to the popular tourism destination.
“With international borders still largely closed, we’re pleased to be making it easier for Australians to experience the world-famous beaches of the Whitsunday region and access the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef,” he said.
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“COVID has also meant we’ve seen demand for travel within the Sunshine State soar in the past year.
“Our flights from Brisbane to places such as Cairns and Townsville have been incredibly popular, so we expect this new route to the Whitsunday Coast will appeal to the many Queenslanders looking to holiday in their own state.
“These new flights also open up the Whitsunday Coast to Qantas customers across the country who will be able to seamlessly connect through Brisbane from our extensive domestic network,” Mr Gissing said.
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“More visitors will be great for the local economy, with flow-on benefits for local businesses in their recovery from the impact of COVID.
“We’ll be promoting these new flights and the Whitsundays to millions of our frequent flyers across the country, offering travellers complimentary food and drinks, baggage and lounge access for eligible passengers in Brisbane Airport.”
The new Brisbane-Proserpine service will complement Jetstar flights to the Whitsunday Coast from Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
What domestic destinations will you visit this year? Why not share your thoughts in the comments section below?
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