Qantas makes cuts to QantasLink operations

Airline Industry Information, June 17, 2008

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2008 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Australia's Qantas Group has unveiled a new round of capacity and network changes, following earlier announcements regarding changes to Qantas and Jetstar's domestic and international services.

The latest cutbacks are focused on QantasLink's regional operations in New South Wales and Victoria.

The carrier is to exit its loss-making Melbourne-Wollongong route with effect from 18 July 2008, and will permanently withdraw the previously suspended services between Newcastle and both Melbourne and Sydney.

In addition the company has announced the accelerated retirement of QantasLink's six remaining Dash 8 100 36-seat aircraft by August 2008, and the closure of QantasLink's Mildura maintenance base on 15 August 2008.

Geoff Dixon, the CEO of Qantas, said that QantasLink would maintain its existing flight operations, cabin and ground crew bases in Melbourne and Mildura to service its remaining network in Victoria, which includes services between Melbourne and Mildura, Devonport, Launceston and Canberra.

((Comments on this story may be sent to aii.feedback@m2.com))