Australian Airlines celebrates First Anniversary

Australian Airlines celebrates its first anniversary of flying today with an extra service to Bali and Sabah, a fifth aircraft and plans for expansion in 2004.

In addition to announcing flights to 12 destinations in its first year, Australian Airlines can now add online bookings to its list of achievements.

And, as announced last week, Andrea Staines has officially replaced Denis Adams as Chief Executive Officer of the full-service, all-economy international leisure carrier.

"We have had the unique opportunity to create a new airline and develop a look and service style which sets us apart," Ms Staines.

"Our model of operation also allows us to fly to destinations that Qantas and other airlines may have withdrawn from but which continue to be popular with leisure travellers.

"Australian Airlines has weathered the difficulties of the past six months and we are now back to pre-SARS levels," she said. "We are growing as expected and considering a number of new destinations for 2004."

Ms Staines said the delivery of a fifth aircraft had enabled Australian Airlines to add a fifth service to Bali and another flight to Sabah.

"With these extra services we are operating close to 50 flights each week.

"We have come a long way since our first flights departed Cairns on October 27 2002 bound for the Japanese cities of Nagoya and Osaka. While we continue to operate daily services to these ports, we also fly to Fukuoka, Singapore, Hong Kong, Bali and Sabah with international connections to the Gold Coast, Sydney and Melbourne."

Ms Staines said an online booking facility was the latest Australian Airlines offering.

"Australian customers planning trips to our international ports of Bali, Fukuoka, Nagoya, Osaka, Hong Kong, Sabah and Singapore can now visit australianairlines.com to book their tickets. Development is also underway to provide an online booking facility for Australian customers travelling on our international connections to Cairns, the Gold Coast, Sydney and Melbourne.