iscover
After a 15-month absence, Tamworth has regained a direct flight to Brisbane thanks to the arrival of regional carrier Jetgo.
Flight JG62 departed the Queensland capital a little after 0930 local time on Monday and landed at Tamworth Regional Airport about 50 minutes later.
Tamworth has been without a direct flight to Brisbane since Brindabella Airlines ceased flying in December 2013.
Jetgo said flights to Tamworth, operated by a 36-seat Embraer E135, will initially run once a day on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during March.
The airline said its three days a week service would move to double daily from April 6 when more check-in counters become available at Brisbane Airport.
A Sunday afternoon service was scheduled to begin on April 12 and Jetgo managing director for airlines Paul Bredereck said plans to add flights on Tuesdays and Thursdays from September could be brought forward if there was enough demand.
“Already we are seeing a good response from the Tamworth community and some Brisbane-based businesses, with advanced bookings ahead of expectations” Bredereck said in a statement on Monday.
“Brisbane Airport is very busy these days, with a lot of work going on, so fitting in a new air service was always going to be a challenge, however Brisbane Airport have been just great in resolving a number of minor issues that had threatened to further delay the launch”.
The Brisbane-Tamworth route was Jetgo’s third go at establishing a regular public transport (RPT) route, after it dropped Sydney-Roma two weeks before the first flight and ended Sydney-Gladstone less than three months after launch due to a lack of corporate support.
Tamworth mayor Col Murray said the direct flight to Brisbane was an important travel link for the wider region.
“This service opens up considerable opportunity for Tamworth businesses to operate in and out of Brisbane and reduces considerable travel time for those businesses that are currently flying to Brisbane via Sydney,” Murray said in a statement.
The council was spending about half a million dollars on improving the check-in facilities, baggage processing and staff at Tamworth Regional Airport, with work to start in mid-March.
QantasLink offers a direct flight between Tamworth and Sydney.
Craigy
says:I realise Paul has been around for quite a while in regional aviation but considering that Qantas don’t service BNE TAM makes me wonder if there is sufficient demand to sustain the service. I hope it is successful but I have a nagging doubt.
Chuck
says:Next…. Newcastle to Toowoomba-Wellcamp and Moree.
Paul Lover
says:I agree 100% with Craigy. Anyone remember how well Tamair went?
Paul Bredereck
says:Hey Paul Lover (great name btw!)
If you remember Tamair did very well out of Tamworth. But unfortunately back in the ’90s the NSW air routes were regulated and it was impossible to expand. Unfortunately with all the overheads required to run an airline just one route by itself is not sustainable.
In order to grow Tamair wet leased 8 aircraft to Airlines of Tasmania which turned out to be a $4.2M disaster, that ultimately sank the company. My bad!!
Only time will tell if Tamworth – Brisbane is a success. However the route has some history, with Brindabella growing it to about 20,000 passengers PA. The JETGO schedule starts small and will build to about 26,000 seats PA from April.
Bob
says:It is refreshing to see that there is a carrier out there which has a broader vision than just sticking to the “safe” option. In business, regardless of industry, one must take on challenges from time to time. I hope that people will value this move by Jetgo and give their support. Let us be honest, on one hand we want a route to be serviced on the other hand we refuse to take the offer if we do not get the flyer points or refuse for other silly reasons. My appeal to the public, support companies like Jetgo so others in the industry will be encouraged to offer services like that in other parts of Australia. There is nothing wrong with flying the big brothers etc but smaller operators need (and deserve) our support. Everyone will benefit, it is a win-win situation. All the best for Jetgo!
Craigy
says:Hi Paul,
Correct me if I am wrong, but I seem the remember your TAM SYD service in the 90s started at Mascot and then you changed it to Bankstown. Is my memory correct? If so what was the impact on your passenger loads?
EH
says:Nice idea @Chuck. Newcastle and Toowoomba would be a good fit, and the major airlines likely wouldn’t go head to head on a route like that.
abdul
says:here in tamworth there is shortage of transportation even you cant get a proper train to travel on proper time and new england highway is safe to travel cuz it takes forever to reach sydney or brisbane we need more transport here in tamworth, well done JETGO
THANKS.
Paul Bredereck
says:Hey Craigy
When Tamair first tried to get access to the TMW – SYD route we were shut out because we did not have “airline” experience.
Back in 92 I was already running a freighter to Bankstown, so it was an easy step to run airline services TMW – Bankstown.
When the route licences were reviewed in early 93 we met the criteria. We were awarded a “third” licence and kicked off SYD – TMW in April 93.
It was well supported and after 3 months Ansett bugged out and did a deal with us.
Once we got access to SYD we cancelled Bankstown. Unfortunately there was not enough demand to Bankstown even though we had a few people use it, the lack of services and infrastructure etc made it quite difficult.
Mike P
says:Good Luck to JetGo,Hope it works for them!
Trevor
says:GO! GO! Jet Go great to see a company with incentive to take on the challenge – I don’t understand why airlines cant take the step of dropping into another regional air port like Armidale and or Gold Coast on their way. wouldn’t this make it more viable a Route. it wasn’t long ago when there was a Quantas flight that would drop in to Tamworth then Armidale if im correct . Tamworth – Armidale – Brisbane sounds ok
Hope to fly with you soon. Congratulations. and for many years to come.