QANTAS INTRODUCES NON-STOP PERTH-DARWIN SERVICES

Qantas today announced the introduction of new non-stop services between Perth and Darwin and an increase in capacity between Perth and Melbourne.

From early November, Qantas will operate the new services between Perth and
Darwin on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays using Boeing 737 aircraft and will
replace three Boeing 737 services each week between Perth and Melbourne
with flights using larger, wide-bodied Boeing 767 aircraft.

The new services will depart Perth at 8.10am arriving in Darwin at 1.05pm.
The return flights will depart Darwin at 1.50pm and arrive in Perth at
4.10pm.

Qantas Executive General Manager Sales and Distribution, John Borghetti,
said the new services confirmed a commitment by Qantas to Western Australia
and further strengthened the airline's position in the local market.

"We've been working very closely with the State Government, with the WA
Tourism Commission and with members of the tourism industry to try to
improve schedules out of Perth," he said.

Mr Borghetti said that customer feedback, including that from the many
companies operating in the oil, gas and related sectors, had indicated a
level of demand for direct services between Perth and Darwin and recent and
forecast growth in the market had prompted this initiative.

He said that the new Perth ? Darwin route provided another important link
for inbound tourists wanting to enter through one gateway and travel to a
number of destinations within Australia.

The new Boeing 767 services between Perth and Melbourne will provide up to
an additional 300 seats each week between the two cities, as Qantas
responds to market demand for more wide-bodied aircraft on trans-Australia
routes.

Western Australia's Minister for Tourism, Clive Brown, has welcomed the new
services saying that they would be a great boost to the State's domestic
tourism market.