Qantas to launch new domestic routes

Qantas said today it would add two new domestic routes from April, with non-stop services to commence between Sydney and Broome and Perth and Cairns.

Executive General Manager Qantas Airlines, John Borghetti, said the new routes would provide a real boost for domestic tourism and provide more direct access to some of Australia's most popular holiday destinations - Broome and Tropical North Queensland.

"Qantas will commence non-stop, twice weekly, two class Boeing 737-800 services between Perth and Cairns from April. This will add more than 330 seats each week to the airline's already significant operations to and from Cairns," Mr Borghetti said.

He said Qantas operated more services into Cairns than any other airline, with direct domestic flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Darwin and Uluru, and direct international services from Tokyo. Cairns is also the operational base for Australian Airlines and its services from Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan.

 Mr Borghetti said the commencement of direct flights between Sydney and Broome highlighted Qantas' commitment to the Western Australian tourism industry.

"Qantas has been flying between Melbourne and Broome since March 2003 and we are now extending our commitment to the Kimberley," he said.

"We will operate a non-stop, weekly, two class Boeing 737-800 service each Saturday that will give the local tourism industry direct access to the country's largest domestic market as well as large numbers of international visitors."

The new services will see Qantas operate direct flights into Broome from Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Alice Springs.

Qantas also announced last year that it would commence daily flights linking Canberra and Perth. These services will commence on 4 February.

The new Broome and Cairns services will add to a comprehensive domestic capital city and regional network that features more than 100 city pairs.