Qantas will bolster travel options for regional South Australians after the carrier today announced upgrades across all regional routes from Adelaide to the larger QantasLink Q400 turboprop aircraft.
The introduction of the larger Q400 aircraft into Port Lincoln, Whyalla, Mount Gambier and Kangaroo Island has been made possible by the airline’s significant investment in 14 additional Q400s for its regional fleet to better connect regional Australia. Once the transition is complete, Qantas will have three Q400s based in South Australia.
The airline is also overhauling its beverage offering with eight new regional wines to be served on all QantasLink turboprop flights from mid-March, six of which hail from South Australian wineries.
“These larger aircraft will bring more seats, a faster flight time and improved reliability for South Australia and reaffirms our commitment to the regions,” QantasLink CEO Rachel Yangoyan said.
“This is the first time the 74-seat Q400 aircraft will be back to Adelaide in 10 years, and for the first time, to new destinations including Mount Gambier and Whyalla.
“Improving the overall travel experience is important but so is investing in the communities that we serve.
“The overhaul of our wine offering across our turboprop network to showcase six South Australian wines to over 3.5 million customers a year is great for local tourism and will grow our support for the local economy.”
Adelaide Airport managing director, Brenton Cox said regional flights are the lifeblood of country towns and cities.
“The introduction of newer and larger aircraft on these routes by QantasLink is a significant win for our regional customers who rely on these services for work, attending appointments and catching up with friends and relatives, as well as benefiting our tourism sector,” he said.
Qantas operates more than 50 return flights per week between Adelaide and the regional cities, providing essential connections for residents and tourists as well as business and resource travel. These flights are currently operated by smaller Q300 aircraft which have 50 seats. Older aircraft are being gradually retired from Qantas. fleet.
