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Qantas has launched direct services linking Perth with Johannesburg and Auckland under a significant expansion of the airline’s western international hub.
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Flight QF65 departed Perth Airport earlier this week bound for Johannesburg, opening a direct link for the national carrier between Western Australia and South Africa.
Three weekly flights will operate on the route on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday via Qantas A330 aircraft from Perth to Johannesburg.
The departure comes after Perth welcomed QF112 from Auckland, the first Qantas service connecting New Zealand with Western Australia.
“Today marks a significant milestone for Perth as our direct service to Johannesburg takes off and we welcome the arrival of the first direct flight from Auckland,” according to Qantas International chief executive, Cam Wallace.
“The response from customers since we announced these routes in May has been terrific. Today’s inaugural flight to Johannesburg is almost full and we’re seeing positive forward bookings, so we know there is strong appetite for direct travel between the West and South Africa, as well as Auckland.
“These routes unlock more options and greater choice for all Australians to connect to the world through our growing network, including to popular cities like Cape Town through our partnership with Airlink in South Africa and for West Australians to New York via Auckland.
“We would like to thank Perth Airport, the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry, and Australian Border Force for working together to make these new flights possible.”
The milestone reinforces the growth of Qantas’ expanding international western hub, connecting three continents and adding more than 150,000 seats in and out of Perth each year, creating jobs to support the local Western Australia economy and boosting inbound tourism to the state.
The inaugural return service from Perth to Auckland was scheduled for departure on 8 December.
“More international flights in and out of Perth means more choice for Australian travellers, more customers for our local world class tourism operators and more opportunities for Aussie exporters. These new flights will bring tourists to Perth, create jobs and help grow our economy,” Minister for Tourism, Don Farrell, said.
These flights have been made possible by funding allocated from the Federal Government to Australian Border Force and the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry to deliver additional border services at airports.
The funding enabled Perth Airport to invest in additional staffing, equipment and facilities that increase border and biosecurity capacity and in turn allow the airport to host more international flights.
“With this new direct route from Perth to Auckland, travellers will enjoy greater flexibility and convenience, and for Aotearoa New Zealand, greater connection to Australia and the world,” Tourism New Zealand Regional Director Australia, Andrew Waddel, said.
“We’ve seen a 17 per cent year-on-year increase of Australian holiday arrivals into New Zealand, so this exciting update, alongside several other new route announcements from Qantas this year, only adds to our momentum. Not only is it a win for Australians who love to travel, but also the 75,000 Kiwis who call Western Australia home, making it even easier to get back home to visit whānau (family) and friends.”
