The launch of a new seasonal direct service between Melbourne and Uluru aims to make it easier for Victorians to enjoy the iconic destination.
From Friday April 4, Alliance Airlines will operate a weekly return service which departs Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport at 9am on Friday, departing Ayers Rock Airport at 3pm on Sunday. It will run every weekend for an initial 13-week season.
“Ayers Rock is a popular destination with Victorians, however feedback indicated that there was a real desire for a direct flight that allowed guests to make the most of their weekend,” executive general manager sales, marketing and distribution Ray Stone said.
An Uluru Weekend package including flights, two nights accommodation and a cultural program is priced from $899 per person.
Australia has become the 13th new market for global discount travel brand, Lowcostholidays, as the UK-based website launched locally with a new office based in Sydney’s CBD.
The site offers customers a hotel lay-by option, meaning Australians need only pay a $5 deposit for accommodation-only deals with the balance not required until 28 days before the stay.
It features 160 airlines and 200,000 hotels, with a strong Facebook following of 30,000 fans.
Etihad and New York-based JetBlue Airways have confirmed plans to commence codeshare operations with the arrangement to be extended once the Middle Eastern carrier starts daily services to Los Angeles in June.
The first stage of the partnership will see Etihad place its EY code on 40 JetBlue routes with the extension of the deal to JetBlue routes to the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Colombia also under consideration by authorities.
Emirates will add a second daily A380- service to its Moscow route from August 1, replacing the existing Boeing 777 operation.
This second A380, which will operate as flight EK133/134, will increase seat capacity on the route by 15%.