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Jetgo starts flights from Illawarra Regional Airport

written by australianaviation.com.au | October 30, 2017

Jetgo Embraer ERJ-135LR VH-ZJE after landing at Melbourne Airport from Albion Park. (SDP Media, Melbourne Essendon Airport)
Jetgo Embraer ERJ-140LR VH-ZJE after landing at Essendon Airport from Albion Park. (SDP Media, Essendon Airport)

Regular public transport (RPT) flights are back at Illawarra Regional Airport (IRA) for the first time in almost a decade.

On Monday, Jetgo commenced nonstop flights from Illawarra Regional Airport, also known as Albion Park, to Melbourne and Brisbane.

It is the first time RPT flights have operated from the airport since the late 2000s when QantasLink ended its service to Melbourne.

The first flight, Embraer ERJ-140LR VH-ZJE operating as JG57, took off from Albion Park at 0715 Monday morning and landed at Melbourne Essendon Airport a little over an hour later.

The reciprocal JG56 left Melbourne Essendon at about 0930 and touched down Albion Park at about 1030.

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To round out the inaugural day of operations, the aircraft has been scheduled to complete an Albion Park-Brisbane-Albion Park rotation, before doing a second round trip to Melbourne Essendon, according to flight tracking website FlightAware.

The regional carrier is offering seven 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 said tickets sales for its Melbourne-Albion Park flights had exceeded internal expectations, which could pave the way for additional services to be added in the period ahead.

“We think this new service will go so well there is even the chance we will expand operations in the future,” Bredereck said in a statement.

Jetgo's Paul Bredereck and Melbourne Essendon Airport's Chris Cowan. (SDP Media/Melbourne Essendon Airport)
Jetgo’s Paul Bredereck and Melbourne Essendon Airport’s Chris Cowan. (SDP Media/Melbourne Essendon Airport)

Those on the inaugural service or in attendance shared some photos of the day on Twitter.

Albion Park is also 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.

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Comments (11)

  • James

    says:

    I live in Sydney but intend getting a train to Albion Park next time I visit Melbourne so I can fly on the Embraer Jets. I notice that the fare is also competitive with Qantas and Virgin Australia’s lowest fares.

  • Red Barron

    says:

    Well done Jetgo. I just hope you don’t over extend yourselfs and stay profitable whilst slowly adding routes that are viable. We need the Jetgo and Rex’s of AUSTRALIA to keep some of these regional sites with flights. I saw Tamair take over East West Airlines role when they left Tamworth and the region to see Tamair offer a service to only them struggle after a few years from expanding too quickly. I’m sure Paul learnt from that time and will keep Jetgo expanding at a sensible and safe rate.

  • Teddy

    says:

    Any ideas how big the Jet Go fleet is currently, and what the mix is of 135/140/145?

  • Russell

    says:

    Teddy, they have two 135 (VH-JZG and VH-JGB) and two 140 (VH-ZJE and VH-ZJG). Also they are currently ferrying a 145 (N16999) to AUS and looks like it will be registered VH-JGR.

  • IT IS ABOUT TIME… WE ARE ALL SO HAPPY TO HAVE THE SERVICE AVAILABLE.

  • it would be even better if a timetable was more readily available also.

  • Dave

    says:

    Flight timing works out well to do a day trip to visit HARS. Very tempting

  • Ross

    says:

    Well done Jetgo. I follow St George Dragons and will defiantly be catching your airline to Illawarra from Brisbane to watch them play next season at Win Stadium. Does anyone know how far the airport is from Win Stadium?

  • Gary Squire

    says:

    I flew the inaugural service on 30 October Illawarra Regional Airport to Essendon Fields. So relaxing – car parking barely 50 paces from check-in, maximum 40-45 going through security, roomy seats with plush upholstery, snacks and drinks served by a cabin attendant who finds time for a friendly chat, then out at Essendon with barely 30 metres to a taxi ride only half the distance to Melbourne than Tullamarine. Worth the 80 minute drive from Sydney for a bit of exclusive luxury at budget prices!

  • Rachel

    says:

    Yes we will be coming from Canberra to get that flight also.

  • Paul

    says:

    Way to go JetGo! and SCC for facilitating the revival of Illawarra regional airport.

    @ Ross… Illawarra airport is only 15min drive to WIN stadium.
    @ Dave… HARS museum is well worth the trip.

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