Alliance Airlines launches third weekly Rockhampton - Brisbane (Australia) flight

Alliance Airlines will introduce a third Rockhampton-Brisbane flight every weekday from 30 November as part of an ongoing commitment to deliver competitive air services to the route.

The airline will operate a 30-seat Embraer Brasilia turboprop aircraft in the middle of the day, in addition to 91-seat Fokker 100 twinjets in the morning and evening.

Alliance Managing Director Scott McMillan said the new services would take to 19 the number of weekly flights which the airline operates between Rockhampton and Brisbane, making this the busiest route in Alliance's growing network.

"We are delighted with the level of community support we have attracted since August, when the Mayor of Rockhampton, Councillor Margaret Strelow, launched our daily Rockhampton - Brisbane flights," said Mr McMillan.

"When we announced these flights, we promised to bring competitive air fares and schedules to the Rockhampton market, and we have done so.

"Our announcement today of more flights for Rockhampton not only honours our commitment to this market, but demonstrates our confidence in business and tourist travel from Brisbane.

"We have reached this point thanks not only to the travelling public who have supported us, but the Queensland and Federal Governments and the City of Rockhampton, who at various times and in various ways have helped us to establish a competitive new airline."

Councillor Strelow welcomed the additional Alliance service to Rockhampton.

"Alliance have kept faith with us, and I am delighted that the Rockhampton community have responded so well in return," she said. "This additional flight is great news for our tourism and our business community."

The Embraer Brasilia is an all-Economy Class aircraft, with leather seats in a 1 x 2 configuration, giving every passenger a window or an aisle position.

It is also the fastest turboprop airliner type in the world, and can fly between Rockhampton and Brisbane in just 1 hour 10 minutes. 

The new Alliance flight will leave Brisbane at 11.15am each weekday, arriving in Rockhampton at 12.25pm. The Brasilia will then leave Rockhampton at 1.00pm, arriving in Brisbane at 2.10pm.

The introduction of an extra service follows the recent announcement of a special Business Class fare of just $298 one way on Alliance jet services between Rockhampton and Brisbane, until the end of November. Alliance is the only carrier to offer Business Class on the Rockhampton route.

This fare, which includes Government taxes, represents a discount of approximately 40% off the Business Class level previously offered by Qantas between the two cities.

It also compliments the airline's very competitive Economy Class fare of just $125 one way.

Mr McMillan thanked customers for their understanding during recent weeks when there were some disruptions to Rockhampton flights, due to requirements to assist the Australian Defence Forces.

This commitment has meant some changes from the Fokker 100 jet aircraft to 30 seat Brasilia, and next week will see temporary use of a 50 seat Fokker 50 turboprop aircraft while Defence requirements are completed.