Qantas boosts domestic capacity with more A330s

Qantas said today it would add more capacity on its extensive domestic network through expansion of its Airbus A330 fleet.

Executive General Manager Qantas Airlines, John Borghetti, said the A330 would enable Qantas to increase capacity on some routes by as much as 130 per cent over the same period in 2003.

"From April 2004, Qantas will operate a daily non-stop Melbourne-Cairns return service using an A330 instead of the current Boeing 737. This will increase non-stop capacity by 130 per cent - or around 2,600 seats each week," Mr Borghetti said.

He said the A330s would also operate one of two daily return Brisbane-Perth services, adding 45 per cent capacity on the peak period flight.

"The extra 2,100 seats a week this will add to the market include an additional 360 Business Class seats," Mr Borghetti said.

"By April we will be operating A330 flights to Perth from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne."

Mr Borghetti said the wide-bodied A330 aircraft being used on the longer-haul domestic routes offered:

- a more spacious cabin; 
- the quietest cabin in the sky; 
- 38 Business Class and between 265 and 305 Economy Class seats;
- an intelligent lighting system; and
- drop down LCD entertainment screens.

In addition, he said Qantas would:

- Increase Brisbane-Darwin capacity by adding eight Boeing 737 services a week, offering double-daily flights six days each week; and

- Double its non-stop return Boeing 737 services on the Darwin-Melbourne route, operating 12 flights a week.

Qantas also announced that it would add two new routes to its network from April, when services commence between Sydney and Broome and Perth and Cairns.