QantasLink Schedule Changes
Sydney, 26 February 2008
QantasLink today announced further schedule changes on its Queensland and New South Wales routes due to the higher than normal pilot attrition rate.
Qantas Group General Manager Regional Airlines Narendra Kumar said the schedule changes would include:
* a suspension of some services on a limited number of routes;
* the reinstatement of a number of previously suspended services in some instances; and
* an upgrade to larger aircraft on some services to maintain capacity.
Mr Kumar said QantasLink expected the schedule changes to be in place until at least July 2008.
"QantasLink has a number of measures in place to restore pilot numbers over the next few months, including a comprehensive pilot training program. We have received over 500 applications for a new QantasLink Pilot Trainee Program and the first graduates from this program are expected to start flying for QantasLink by the end of June," he said.
New South Wales
* QantasLink will suspend its six Newcastle-Sydney services per week. This follows the suspension of Newcastle-Brisbane and Newcastle- Melbourne services that occurred in February. The Qantas Group continues to offer twice-daily Newcastle-Melbourne and three daily Newcastle-Brisbane services operated by Jetstar on 177-seat A320 aircraft.
* QantasLink will upgrade to larger aircraft on some services to Armidale, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie and Moree/Narrabri.
Queensland
* Two of QantasLink's 24 Hervey Bay-Brisbane return services will be temporarily suspended.
* A daily QantasLink Brisbane-Mackay service will be temporarily suspended. The Qantas Group will continue to operate four daily services on the route - three Jetstar A320 177-seat services and one QantasLink Q400 72-seat service, offering overnight services between the two destinations.
* Adjustments to the Brisbane-Rockhampton schedule will see the reinstatement of the
Q400 72-seat non-stop overnight service on the route from 4 March.
* The daily Gladstone to Brisbane direct service will be rescheduled to its previous early morning departure time of 6:45am from 4 March.
Mr Kumar said all QantasLink customers holding confirmed tickets on any suspended services would be transferred to the next available QantasLink or Jetstar flight at no extra charge, or offered a full refund.