Okay, so you might have had to wait a little longer than expected for the Hemsie Express, but Chris-mas came early, with the first Qantas flight between SYD-BNK in 15 years!
The first Qantas flight between Sydney and Byron Bay (Ballina) in 15 years departed this morning and the airline has confirmed its first-ever flights to Orange will start on 20 July.
The additional routes are part of the gradual ramping up of Qantas and Jetstar domestic flights, which could get up to 40 per cent of pre-Coronavirus capacity levels this month. Both routes were originally scheduled to start earlier this year but were delayed due to the Coronavirus and travel restrictions.
“Byron Bay continues to be an incredibly popular destination for holidaymakers of all types, and was one of the most in-demand destinations for Qantas and Jetstar over the past month,”
John Gissing, QantasLink CEO
QantasLink CEO John Gissing said the recent spike in bookings demonstrates there is significant pent up demand for Australians to take a holiday after months of lockdown.
“As the national carrier we have an important role to play in driving tourism and reviving the industry that has been devastated by COVID-19,” Mr Gissing said.
“These additional flights are coming at the right time for families who’ve spent much of the recent months confined to their homes and are looking forward to getting out and exploring their own State.”
NSW Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the new services would make it easier than ever for NSW residents to take a country, city or coastal break.
“Now there are even more reasons to love NSW with easy access to our pristine beaches, world-class food and wine, and an unforgettable picture-perfect city. We encourage anyone who can take a holiday to book their next NSW adventure now to enjoy these idyllic locations and beyond while supporting tourism businesses at the same time.”
Stuart Ayres, NSW Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney.
We’re coming for you, Byron!
QantasLink will operate daily return flights between Sydney and Byron Bay (Ballina) with its Q400 aircraft. The flights are in addition to Jetstar’s flights from Melbourne and Sydney.
The airline will operate three weekly return services between Sydney and Orange on its Q200 aircraft from 20 July, with plans to increase frequency later in the year.
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READ: THE HEMSIE EXPRESS: Qantas To Start Flying to Byron Bay From March 2020