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Qantas and Jetstar are reshuffling their Whitsundays services, with Jetstar to fly only to Proserpine/Whitsunday Coast, and Qantas and QantasLink only to Hamilton Island.
Starting in October, Qantas will end its Proserpine services and Jetstar its Hamilton Island services, with each airline to instead add more flights to their respective destinations: Jetstar will add up to nine Proserpine flights per week and QantasLink a new Melbourne–Hamilton Island service.
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Jetstar’s Brisbane–Proserpine A320 services will increase from 7-10 to 10 per week, while Sydney–Proserpine will increase from 5-7 to 7-11 per week, adding A321s to the route. Melbourne–Proserpine will also add A321s as it goes from 4-7 flights to seven flights per week.
On Qantas’ part, Sydney will retain its seven 737-800 services to Hamilton Island per week, while Brisbane flights will switch from E190s to A220s; additionally, Melbourne will see three new weekly A220 flights to Hamilton Island.
According to Jetstar chief executive Stephanie Tully, the changes will add more than 2,300 new low-fare seats to Proserpine per week, bringing its total flights in the region to around 550,000 seats per year.
“Our Proserpine services are some of the strongest performing routes in Jetstar’s domestic network and we’re pleased to be able to offer thousands more low-fare seats each week following these network changes,” she said.
“As a full-service carrier, Qantas is best positioned to service the demand from premium leisure travellers to Hamilton Island.
“This network change highlights the strength of the Qantas Group’s dual brand strategy and the flexibility it provides both airlines to adapt their schedules to meet customer demand.”
QantasLink currently operates six A220-300s, with the seventh, VH-X4G, currently en route from Montreal to Australia at the time of writing.
The A220s are replacing QantasLink’s now-retired Boeing 717 fleet, and offer a greater range and better fuel efficiency as well as cabin improvements including larger windows, more overhead locker space, and more comfortable economy seating compared to the 717.
The A220-300s have 25 per cent more seats (137 compared to 110 on the 717), plus twice the range and 28 per cent lower fuel burn per seat. The first A220, VH-X4A, arrived in Australia in December 2023, and a total of 29 are on order by the end of 2027.
Internationally, Qantas had planned to launch its new Darwin–Singapore service using the A220, but instead launched using the 737-800, with the A220 to take over the route in October.
