QANTASLINK and Rex have won the rights to service regional Queensland after signing a new series of contracts that will take effect from the start of next year.
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But the subsidised QantasLink routes Northern 3 (Townsville-Cloncurry-Mount Isa), Horn Island (Cairns-Horn Island) and Weipa (Cairns-Weipa) will be deregulated and opened to competition from January 1, 2015.
QantasLink won the tender for two routes, while Rex will extend its current services from two routes to five, taking over three routes operated by Skytrans.
Transport Minister Scott Emerson said all regional airports would stay the same after long-distance service reviews that were conducted by Translink in 2013 that received more than 7200 surveys from passengers.
Outback Queensland Tourism Association general manager Peter Homan applauded the government’s support for servicing the regional areas, but admitted it wasn’t great news for Skytrans.
“It’s great to see that the government is continuing to support regional areas,” he said.
“They have cut the competition down from three to two airlines.
“They have taken one operator out of the Outback, it’s sad for Skytrans who were doing great in the Outback.”
Routes Western 1 (Brisbane-Toowoomba-St George, Cunnamulla-Thargomindah) and Western 2 (Brisbane-Toowoomba-Charleville-Quilpie-Windorah-Birdsville-Bedourie, Boulia-Mount Isa) will use the new Wellcamp Airport, about 15 minutes west of Toowoomba.
Rex will be visiting its 16 new ports within the next two weeks.
