Virgin Blue to significantly increase flights to Cairns

Virgin Blue has announced plans to significantly ramp up Cairns capacity with an increase on routes to and from three east coast Capitals.

By early May 2004, Virgin Blue will have gone from 6 departures a day to 9 daily, which represents a frequency increase of 50% for the Cairns market.

Cairns - Sydney 11 March 2004

Direct flights between Cairns and Sydney will increase from 2 to 3 per day, with the additional flight departing Cairns at 7.00am, arriving in Sydney at 9.50am coupled with an early evening departure from Sydney at 6.30pm, landing in Cairns at 9.40pm.

Cairns - Melbourne 9 April 2004

The popular Melbourne route will go to two flights a day, with Virgin Blue the only airline operating a non stop double daily service between Cairns and the Victorian Capital. It will depart Melbourne at the leisure friendly time of 8.30am, landing in Cairns at 11.55am and departing Cairns at 12.30pm, landing back in Melbourne at 3.50pm.

Cairns - Brisbane 8 May 2004

An additional daily direct flight between Cairns and Brisbane will take the schedule to 4 return flights a day. The new flight will leave Brisbane at 2.00pm, landing in Cairns at 4.25pm. It will depart at 5.00pm and arrive in Brisbane at 7.00pm.

Virgin Blue Head of Communications and Strategy, David Huttner said, "From whichever end of the country you are flying, Virgin Blue has demonstrated that we would rather add more seats than raise fares. We believe that Australian travellers know which airline has been about good value and great service since day one and which one has suddenly discovered that people are tired of paying extra for a box lunch. The new flights will provide more flexibility and flight options to people travelling to and from Cairns for business or pleasure.

David Huttner added, "The Cairns community has thrown its support behind Virgin Blue from day one and the airline has always vowed to support the regions that support low fares. Huge tourism demand and the strong performance of our new 'Blue Holidays' division is also a large factor in having the confidence to commit more flights to the Cairns routes. By sticking to our strategy we have been able to grow tourism in the Tropical North during a period when others cut back services. There is no reason that growth shouldn't continue as this is what a true low fare airline does."