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QantasLink has upgraded all of its regional routes from Adelaide to Dash 8 Q400 aircraft.
The Flying Kangaroo’s regional arm is replacing older 50-seat Q300s out of Adelaide with the newer, larger planes, a switch enabled by its move last year to purchase 14 mid-life Q400s to transition its turboprop fleet to a single aircraft type.
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QantasLink currently operates more than 50 weekly return flights between Adelaide and regional centres including Port Lincoln, Whyalla, Mount Gambier and Kangaroo Island.
“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.”
Adelaide Airport’s managing director, Brenton Cox, has welcomed the move, saying regional flights are “the lifeblood of our 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.
The Q400s, sourced from an unnamed international carrier, began entering service from the end of last year, with the first – VH-84A – taking flight in December.
According to Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson, the Q400s are more than 30 per cent faster, produce less carbon emissions per passenger, and are on average 10 years younger than the aircraft they are replacing.
“QantasLink turboprops carry more than 3.5 million customers to more than 50 destinations around regional Australia every year, and these next-generation aircraft allow us to improve the travel experience with a faster and more comfortable experience,” she said last year.
“By consolidating our turboprops into a single fleet type, we’ll be able to further improve our reliability and provide a better recovery for our customers during disruptions as well as reducing complexity and cost for our operation.
“We know sustainable travel is important for our customers. These additional Q400s allow us to provide certainty to the regions over the next decade while we work with aircraft manufacturers and other suppliers on electric or battery-powered aircraft that are the right size and range for our network.”
