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Extract from www.news.com.au
- December 2001
Cairns
chosen as major hub for Australian Airlines
Australian Airline announced that it would commence operations in
the third quarter of 2002 between Cairns in Queensland and six Asian
cities.
The
airline, while wholly-owned by Qantas Airways Limited, will have
separate management and will operate independently of Qantas.
Chief
Executive of Australian Airlines, Mr Denis Adams, said the airline
would be a single class, full service leisure carrier.
"It
will also provide a very real boost to inbound tourism," he
said.
The
initial services will be non-stop return from Cairns to Osaka, Nagoya,
Singapore, Taipei, Hong Kong and Fukuoka. Seoul and Shanghai will
commence shortly after.
Mr
Adams said Qantas would provide, through its Cairns hub, connecting
services for Australian Airlines to all Australian capital cities
and key tourist destinations such as Uluru.
Australian
Airlines would:
-
Locate
its first operational base in Cairns;
-
Commence
operations with four Boeing 767-300 aircraft, building to a
fleet of 12 767-300s;
-
Offer
connecting flights between Cairns and the Gold Coast, six times
a week;
-
Be
headquartered in Sydney and establish a second base to Cairns
in a southern capital city;
-
Establish a national presence as quickly as possible and eventually
fly
-
to
every Australian mainland capital including Perth and Darwin.
Mr
Adams said Australian Airlines would work closely with the Australian
Tourist Commission and all State tourism authorities.
He
said the airline, while boosting tourism, would also provide important
international growth for the Qantas Group.
"Our
job will be to create profitable flying on routes Qantas has withdrawn
from or on routes from where Qantas has been unable to extract a
satisfactory return," he said.
Australian
Airlines would join the Qantas Frequent Flyer program and would
seek membership of the oneworld™ alliance through Qantas.
Mr
Adams said Australian Airlines wanted to thank the Queensland State
Government for its support in choosing Cairns as its first operational
base.
"We
will be working closely with the Queensland Government on a range
of joint promotions aimed at developing tourism.
"Australian Airlines also has in place a commercial arrangement
with the Cairns Port Authority which recognises the importance of
the increased traffic the airline will be directing into Cairns,"
he said.
"We
look forward to working with all the States as we expand over the
next two years."
For More Information:
Geoff Donaghy
Managing Director
Cairns Convention Centre
Telephone: 07-4042 4200
Facsimile: 07-4052 1152
Email: gdonaghy@cairnsconvention.com.au
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