Qantas fires up Gold Coast route competition
Qantas will resume daily services from the Gold Coast to meet what the airlines says is "growing demand for premium leisure and business travel in the region".
From late October, Qantas will commence three daily return services between the Gold Coast and Sydney using Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
The Gold Coast passenger lounge, currently used by Jetstar, will undergo a refurbishment and be reopened as a Qantas Club by the end of 2012.
Qantas stopped flying to the Gold Coast in July 2008, leaving its budget offshoot, Jetstar, to service the destination.
Qantas is responding to competition on the route from Virgin Australia.
Virgin has increased capacity on routes to the Gold Coast by 7% over the last year and launched business-class services a year ago. Virgin has also opened a lounge at the airport at Coolangatta.
The Accommodation Association of Australia has welcomed the move by Qantas to resume Gold Coast services.
"Those who prefer full-service airlines – such as the Asian middle-class, together with international and domestic corporate travellers – will have plenty to smile about,” said CEO Richard Munro."
Ian Jarrett
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