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Qantas to codeshare on Airnorth’s new Wellcamp routes

written by australianaviation.com.au | March 1, 2016

AIR NORTH_DAVE PARER (3)
Airnorth will operate E170 jets for its daily Melbourne-Wellcamp and three-times-weekly Wellcamp-Cairns services. (Dave Parer)

Airnorth’s new Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport services to Melbourne and Cairns will be supported by a codeshare agreement with Qantas.

The Darwin-based regional carrier is already a codeshare partner with Qantas, which itself flies between Sydney and Wellcamp, located just outside Toowoomba.

“The new flights will allow both outbound and inbound customers from Toowoomba and the wider Darling Downs to directly access Melbourne and Cairns with the added Qantas codeshare travel options and associated benefits,” Airnorth chief executive Daniel Bowden said in a statement on Monday.

“By partnering with Qantas on these services we’re expanding not only our codeshare network but our ability to offer customers in regional communities greater access to quality airline services.”

QantasLink chief executive John Gissing said that Qantas passengers would get “seamless connectivity” to Qantas’s domestic and international networks through the codeshare agreement.

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Airnorth will deploy 76-seat Embraer E170 jets for the daily Melbourne-Wellcamp and three-times-weekly Wellcamp-Cairns services.

Although both routes are scheduled to take off from March 14, tickets booked through the Qantas codeshare will only be available for travel from March 28, Airnorth said.

Currently, Qantas places its QF airline code on Airnorth-operated flights between Kununurra and Perth, Darwin and Broome, Darwin and Dili, Darwin-Gove-Cairns, as well as to Townsville, Port Hedland and Karratha (via Broome).

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Comments (8)

  • Mike

    says:

    Cue Virgin Regional announcement in 3, 2, 1…

  • GBRGB

    says:

    It seems it is an earn only setup, virtually no reward seats ever available on Air North services that I use. Further to this the lack of select seat and online check in when using a QF booking is frustrating to the point the codeshare setup is a disadvantage over booking direct. Lounge access is one of the few perks for a QF booking.

  • Ben

    says:

    Mike,
    Whilst normally that might be the case in this situation I can’t see how. The ATR is not competitive over those stage lengths with the speeds of the Q400 or E170 and the E190 (or F100) is too large a machine for these routes just yet. Once these are up and running and have demand then maybe VA may look to enter these markets. But for now I think they are too niche for them to serve.

    Same can be said for JetGo’s services to Melbourne/Brisbane. VA doesn’t have the right sized jets to make it viable and the sector stage lengths are too long for the ATR (in passenger terms not aircraft capability).

  • john doutch

    says:

    Great news, this will certainly enhance the viability of the service, a “win win” for all.

  • Barry

    says:

    The E170 is the perfect aircraft for this market. The E190 would be just too big and virgin are getting rid of them anyway. Virgin really don’t have platform that could compete on these relatively long narrow routes, and nor does Qantas for that matter….

  • Tony

    says:

    @gbrgb
    Same experience when using QF FF points to fly Jetstar. No online checkin etc. Should have been an easy fix for Qantas given ownership of Jetstar so not much hope for Air North given third party ownership.
    Amusing sight at Broome watching Qantas passengers transferring to Air North, already in possession of boarding passes but having to follow long circular route in one door and back out next door only 3 meters away, all in a rush as flight about to depart. So code share qf not perfect.

  • Russell M

    says:

    GBRGB – had a look today, there are point redemption flights (not a lot, but they are there) on the Melbourne / Toowoomba sector. 12,000 points for a direct flight, bypassing that very ordinary drive from Brisbane and up the hill.

    Works for me!

  • Russell M

    says:

    I really hope this opens up a new market for both Toowoomba region and Air North.

    The Dash 8 from Sydney was great, and even having to transit Macquarie Airport (bleh) is better than having to do the drive up the hill to Toowoomba, sans inflight-refreshments !!

    To go direct from Melbourne will be great, and with some QF point redemptions now available that helps as well.

    People – SUPPORT the service and hopefully it will settle in and be profitable.

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