Virgin Blue announce new Perth- Kalgoorlie route
virginblue.com.au
28 January 2005
Blue Announces Brand New Domestic Route
West Australian Flight Bonanza - New Perth-Kalgoorlie Flight & Increased Broome ServicesIn its first new route announcement for the year, Australia’s multi-award winning low cost carrier, Virgin Blue, has confirmed it will begin direct flights between Perth and the West Australian mining community of Kalgoorlie.
At the same time, the airline has committed to increasing the number of Perth-Broome flights from four a week to daily flights following the steady demand since the service launched five months ago.
The first flight between Perth and Kalgoorlie will launch on April 7 after many months of strong lobbying from the Kalgoorlie community to bring low fares and more competition to the local market.
Virgin Blue Chief Commercial Officer, Stefan Pichler, said, “This new service is the result of the ongoing demand we have had from the people of Kalgoorlie who want the same affordable fares and great service that Virgin Blue has provided to other Australian destinations, including Perth and Broome.”
The low fare airline will launch the service with four flights a week (Monday, Thursday, Friday & Sunday) in order to build up its regional relationships one step at a time.
“We are confident travellers will appreciate not only the fantastic airfares, but also the friendly service, modern jets and soon the live television options in the seatbacks that will be on offer to Virgin Blue Guests,” Stefan Pichler added.
A special Kalgoorlie-Perth launch fare of $39* one-way on the net (plus taxes, fees and surcharges from $39) is up for sale from now until February 11 for travel between April 7 and May 31. Everyday low fares will start from $79* (plus taxes, fees and surcharges from $39) one-way on the net while the fully flexible fare will be $229* (plus taxes, fees and surcharges from $39) one-way on the net, approximately 20% lower than the competition.
Connections will also be available between Kalgoorlie and Sydney and Melbourne.
Stefan Pichler continued, “We are well aware that some of the mining contracts are already locked away with traditional carriers but are hopeful that the mining, business and local community will take the considerable bottom line benefits into account and put their money where their mouth is by giving us a fair and fighting chance.”
Virgin Blue will closely monitor support for the Kalgoorlie flights with a view to increasing them if the demand is there, which has proven the case with the recently launched Perth-Broome flights. After just five months, Virgin Blue has announced it will go from four flights a week to daily from May 1, just in time to bring more visitors to the Broome region for its peak tourist season.
It follows steady support for the initial direct services between the two WA destinations with solid loads giving Virgin Blue the confidence to go daily and put more affordable seats into the market.
“This is good news for travellers, good news for the WA Tourism industry and good news for the business Guests who will now have a convenient daily service to take advantage of,” Stefan Pichler finished.
Perth-Broome flights start from $119* (plus taxes, fees and surcharges from $60) one-way on the Internet.
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