Powered by MOMENTUM MEDIA
australian aviation logo

Qantas to start Bendigo-Sydney nonstop flights

written by australianaviation.com.au | December 10, 2018

A QantasLink Q300 at Bendigo Airport. (City of Greater Bendigo/Facebook)
A QantasLink Q300 at Bendigo Airport. (City of Greater Bendigo/Facebook)

Bendigo Airport will welcome its first commercial flights for more than three decades from the end of March when Qantas begins nonstop services from Sydney to the regional Victoria city.

Qantas plans to serve Bendigo from Sydney six times a week with 50-seat Dash 8-Q300 turboprops, with the inaugural service to take off on March 31. The schedule would increase to daily during the peak summer months.

The airline, which flew a Q300 to Bendigo Airport for the official announcement, said on Monday it would be the first ever regular public transport (RPT) service linking Bendigo with Sydney.

Further, it would be the “first commercial services from Bendigo in more than 30 years”.

==
==

QantasLink chief executive John Gissing said the flights were a “win for both travellers and tourism”.

“We’re responding to demand from local businesses and industry leaders by adding Bendigo to our network,” Gissing said.

“Direct flights will offer a more convenient way to do business in Sydney, saving travellers around four hours driving time on a round trip instead of flying via Melbourne.

“We look forward to working together to promote destination Bendigo to travellers from across Australia and around the world, driving the tourism and economic growth which is so vital to the region.”

Gissing said the route was being launched with support from the Victorian Government, Visit Victoria and City of Greater Bendigo Council.

The launch of Sydney-Bendigo nonstop flights at Bendigo Airport. (City of Greater Bendigo/Facebook)
The launch of Sydney-Bendigo nonstop flights at Bendigo Airport. (City of Greater Bendigo/Facebook)

The launch of RPT flights at Bendigo Airport follows the recent $15 million redevelopment of the airfield that included a new 1,600m runway, new taxiways, runway lighting, line-markings and control system upgrades that was completed in 2017.

The airport also got new aviation hangars, improved drainage and better road access in 2014.

City of Greater Bendigo Mayor Margaret O’Rourke described the start of QantasLink flights as a “long-held civic goal” for the council.

“Eighteen months on from unveiling our new 1,600m runway, we have achieved what we set out to do,” Cr O’Rourke said in a statement.

“Access to regular flights to and from Bendigo presents a great opportunity to further grow our tourism brand, better connect our businesses to domestic and international clients and colleagues, and provide residents with more options when it comes to leisure travel.”


VIDEO: A look at the opening of Bendigo Airport’s state two redevelopment that included the new runway from the Victorian Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources’ YouTube channel.

You need to be a member to post comments. Become a member today!

Comments (7)

  • David

    says:

    thought this would be more of a Rex route than Qantas.

  • Andrew

    says:

    Yes, this will be interesting

  • Red Cee

    says:

    Good news. I will certainly use this over flying to MEL, hiring a car to drive to Bendigo. Look forward to seeing the timetable, price and status credit details.

  • Red Cee

    says:

    Does this mean Bendigo is in the running for the second Qantas pilot training facility?

  • John

    says:

    What does it mean to say the route has been introduced with the “support from the Victorian Government”? Does it mean the government is subsidising it?

  • NR

    says:

    Qantas, please consider adding Griffith to Sydney to your network. Rex have just increased frequency to six flights a day, with many days completely sold out. The demand is there! Annual passengar numbers will hit over 80k this year. The frequent flyer program and connectivity domestically and internationally will give Qantas a competitive advantage! You named one of your Q300’s after Griffith last year, surely that was in anticipation of flying there??

  • Adrian P

    says:

    If we are serious about the regions, need more of these.
    How about Adelaide -Bendigo – Sydney
    How about Adelaide -Mildura – Sydney

Comments are closed.

You don't have credit card details available. You will be redirected to update payment method page. Click OK to continue.