Virgin Australia’s Boeing 737-800 aircraft touched down in Alice Springs, marking the start of a new Adelaide-Springs-Darwin service.
Flights on the aircraft will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, offering 1,000 seats per week.
NT Chief Minister, Adam Giles said the new service adds competition on the route and will put pressure to reduce ticket prices.
I’m excited to be jetting off on Virgin Australia’s first Darwin-Alice-Adelaide flight. @VisitCentralAus pic.twitter.com/qtBp6bQIUp
— Adam Giles (@adamgiles) March 29, 2015
Prior to Virgin’s arrival, Qantas was the only airline flying on the route.
“I urge Territorians to get behind the route and ensure this competition is here to stay.”
Adam Giles, NT Chief Minister
In addition to flying to the Red Centre, it also gives passengers access to Virgin domestic and international network.
To celebrate the start of the new route, Virgin Australia has announced a 20-day sale in which airfares between Alice Springs and other Australian destinations any time this year will be reduced by at least 20 percent.
Virgin Australia plane arriving at Alice Springs airport.
To support this effort the Territory Government is also in the midst of a month-long $250 000 Alice Springs tourism campaign called ‘Choose your own adventure’.
“We want potential visitors to see that in a three to five day trip it’s easy to choose your own adventure through the amazing Red Centre landscape.”
“It could be riding on a quad bike, touring on the back of a camel or enjoying a cool dip in a picturesque waterhole – there’s something for everyone, all within a few hours of Alice Springs.”