+1, I hope they do well also,
I called into Wynyard Thursday late afternoon, still no changes to the Western terminal.
From today's Advocate Newspaper + a photo of Roman on the tarmac
Free Spirit makes first NW landing | The Advocate
IT flew into an easterly breeze and landed without a hitch at Wynyard Airport, touching down in Tasmania after its first commercial flight.
Free Spirit Airlines began its service for the North-West, flying from Essendon Airport and landing only three minutes late at 11.53am.Managing director Roman Badov and four other passengers exited the airline's small two-engine Beechcraft 1900 onto the tarmac after the flight.
Onboard passengers have to stoop while standing, but sitting there is room enough on the 19-seat aircraft.
Mr Badov hoped bookings would increase after people knew the airline had begun flying to Burnie. We have been experiencing a steady rate of bookings and it has been increasing daily," he said.
In the next week 50 per cent of seats on Free Spirit Airline flights to and from Melbourne are booked, he said.
"We are experiencing a very high level of public interest.
"Today is really a defining moment because it's proved to the public we are a functional airline."
Flights on the Burnie to Melbourne route cost from $149 one way.
Four kilograms of carry-on luggage and 16 kg of checked luggage are included in the flight cost.
The airline will offer up to two return flights to Melbourne from Burnie each day until June, when it will begin to have up to three daily services.
It will soon operate a second plane.
Mr Badov expected the business to become profitable within six months.
He said passengers would benefit from lower congestion, ample parking and easy access to Melbourne at Essendon Airport compared to Tullamarine.
Mr Badov hoped Free Spirit Airlines' presence would lower flight costs for North-West residents using Jetstar in Launceston, Regional Express in Burnie and QantasLink in Devonport.Free Spirit Airlines also plans to expand by adding a service from Melbourne to Merimbula, NSW, in June.
Valerie Norton, a Heybridge-based passenger on the airline's first flight into Wynyard, said she would use it travelling with her husband Brendon for his Melbourne medical appointments.
Free Spirit Airlines has passed regulatory approvals tests, Mr Badov said.