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Illawarra Regional Airport (IRA) will receive regular public transport (RPT) flights for the first time in close to a decade when Jetgo commences nonstop services to Melbourne and Brisbane from October 30.
The regional carrier will offer nine flights a week to Melbourne Essendon and six flights a week to Brisbane with Embraer ERJ-135LR/140LR jets.
Jetgo managing director for airlines Paul Bredereck promised ticket prices would be comparable with nonstop flights from the major carriers out of Sydney Kingsford Smith to Melbourne and Brisbane.
“Fares will be competitive with Qantas and Virgin, starting from $155 one way to both Brisbane and Melbourne, with more than half of all seats available for under $200,” Bredereck said in a statement.
“Jetgo’s Embraer regional jets are one of the few regional passenger aircraft that could meet the IRA’s requirements. Due to their high performance, they are the ideal aircraft to open up this market.”
Further, Bredereck said the airline has been extremely pleased with early booking numbers since the flights went on sale.
Illawarra Regional Airport, also known as Albion Park, last had RPT service in the late 2000s when QantasLink ended flights to Melbourne. The former Impulse Airlines also offered RPT flights from Illawarra to Melbourne and Newcastle in the late 1990s.
The airport is the site of the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) and the retirement home of Qantas’s first Boeing 747-400 VH-OJA. In June, the Australian Aviation Hall of Fame (AAHOF) said it had struck an agreement with HARS to establish a permanent home at Albion Park.
Shellharbour City Council Mayor Marianne Saliba said the new Jetgo services would boost the local economy.
“Coupled with planned upgrades to the airport terminal, the facility is set to be a major economic driver for Shellharbour’s future for expanding services within our region,” Cr Saliba said.
The council is planning on building a new terminal at the airport, according to its website.
Teddy
says:The JETGO route network is starting to look more impressive, and nice to see a major city like Wollongong again getting deserved levels of air service.
How many EMB135 do they currently have in their fleet? Do these new routes represent further fleet expansion? If so, are they new build aircraft or sourced from other operators? @AA – any ideas?
Will be interesting to see what other as-yet untapped markets JETGO can venture into. Perhaps:
Townsville – Canberra
Toowoomba (Wellcamp) – Canberra
Newcastle – Toowoomba (Wellcamp)
Newcastle – Adelaide
Sunshine Coast – Canberra
Frequent Flyer
says:Canberra Wollongong would be a good Jetgo addition.
Paul Case
says:Congrats to Jetgo for offering their services to Australia’s 7th largest city. Best wishes to pilots as they execute one of the trickiest approaches in Australia.
E L Crone
says:How good is this – can now fly direct to visit the HARS Museum.
Croppo
says:Jetgo already looking at Hervey bay Melbourne direct