Airport service milestone

WITH Happy Birthdays coming from all in attendance, QantasLink celebrated its 1st Anniversary of service to and from Illawarra Regional Airport on Tuesday June 6.

A special Anniversary celebration luncheon hosted by Qantas Group General Manager of Regional airlines, Narenda Kumar, was held in the Aviator Lounge restaurant at the airport. Special guests included Shellharbour City Mayor Cr David Hamilton and Wollongong Lord Mayor Cr Alex Darling. It was attended by members of Shellharbour City Council, Wollongong Council, Shoalhaven Council, Bluescope Steel and the Novotel Hotel in Wollongong as well as other regional businesses and tourism groups.

Mr Kumar said QantasLink now operated 14 flights a week to and from the Illawarra Regional Airport.

We are pleased to have reached this milestone, Mr Kumar said.

Our first year of operation has been encouraging with some 16,000 business and leisure travellers using our services and we look forward to the Illawarra regions continued support in the future.

Mr Kumar also congratulated Shellharbour City Council on its recent Award for the Illawarra Regional Airport project.

Commenting on the anniversary, Shellharbour City Mayor Cr David Hamilton said that the QantasLink services had brought much tourism and economic benefit to the region.

This is the culmination of 15 years of hard work, Cr Hamilton said.

I am thrilled with the progress so far.

Cr Hamilton said that research statistics indicate that the average tourist spends approximately $126 a day when travelling

The QantasLink services have provided a real boost for the local economy.

The only thing they could do to make it better would be the introduction of a weekend service.

Cr Hamilton added that while a weekend service was being seriously considered, it would only eventuate as a result of both continued support of the current services by the region and when Qantas acquire their new 400-series aircraft, which would allow the release of more of the currently used dash 8 aircraft into regional service.

We are also involved in serious discussions on additional destinations out of the Illawarra, Cr Hamiton said.

However, we must focus on the continued success of our current services and ensure their longer term sustainability to provide the foundation for future expansion.

Mr Kumar said that QantasLink was celebrating the anniversary with a special First Birthday sale, with fares between the Illawarra and Melbourne starting from $109. He said that this fare was valid for travel between June 19 and July 14 2006, and that tickets must be purchased by June 9.