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FLIGHT WEST TO INTRODUCE DUAL SERVICE PRODUCT ON QUEENSLAND JET OPERATIONS

2 July 2002

Queensland-based Flight West Airlines will offer the unique combination of a full service Business Class and a no frills Economy Class on its Fokker 100 jet services between Townsville and Brisbane, commencing on Monday, 8 July.

The airline will also offer significant fare discounts in both classes, and will provide one of the most spacious cabins in Australian skies, with substantial legroom for every passenger.

Business Class travel is priced at just $320 per person, one-way, from Townsville to Brisbane - well below the current Business Class fare offered on the route. 

An Economy Class 'Budget Fare' of just $108.89 one-way is also available from Townsville until 31July, in one of the most competitive offerings currently available on the route, and standard Economy Class fares start from just $131 per person one-way from Townsville. These prices include all statutory taxes, levies and charges.

From Brisbane to Townsville, the one-way Business Class fare is $321.68, the Budget Fare is $110.57 and the Saver fare is $132.68. These prices are slightly higher than Townsville rates to include charges specific to Brisbane Airport.

Flight West's Managing Director Mr Scott McMillan said the new multi-class product would coincide with a doubling of the carrier's Townsville-Brisbane services from three to six per week, commencing next Monday. 

"The airline industry worldwide has divided into two distinct product groupings since the events of September last year, offering either full service or value based products," said Mr McMillan.

"We know that more than ever before that price is a major factor in choosing an airline," he said. "We also know that there is still strong demand for both full service and no frills products, and we are acting to satisfy those requirements.

"Our strategy is to offer a choice of both products on one aircraft, and to introduce a range of very competitive air fares that we believe will appeal to the marketplace in general."

Flight West's Business Class will feature 16 comfortable leather seats in a 2 x 2 seat layout with a spacious 42 inch "pitch" - the standard measure of cabin space, based on the distance between one seat and the same point on the seat in front. 

Flight West's cabin attendants will provide Business Class passengers with a full service including hot meals supplied by Townsville company Sky Snacks, and daily newspapers.

Economy Class passengers also will be treated to plenty of legroom, with a seat pitch of at least 34 inches - equal to or better than the best economy space on competing domestic airline services. 

Food and drinks can be purchased in the Economy cabin, which features 75 seats in a 2 x 3 layout, ensuring that 80 per cent of passengers have either a window or aisle seat.

Flight West has also secured new administration premises at Townsville Airport and recently employed 10 new locally based flight attendants, as part of the expansion programme.

Fokker 100 jets - operated exclusively in Australia by Flight West - have proved to be extremely popular, both in the air and on the ground. "As well as our pricing and innovative product, we believe our Fokker 100 jets are the quietest in the sky," said Mr McMillan. "The two rear mounted Rolls Royce engines offer not only a smooth, quiet ride for passengers, but minimal intrusion to communities located near airports or beneath flight paths."

In addition to the Townsville-Brisbane flights, Flight West uses Fokker 100 aircraft on contract flights from Townsville to resources sites operated in Western Queensland by Western Mining Corporation and Pasminco.

Besides the Townsville services, Flight West will also increase from 12 to 18 the number of weekly return services it operates between Brisbane and the coastal city of Gladstone. The additional flights will commence next Monday, 8 July using one-class, 30-seat pressurised Embraer Brasilia turboprop airliners.

Flight West is soon to undergo a name and image change following its recent sale to a consortium of aviation entrepreneurs including Mr Stephen Bond - well known in the Australian aviation community for his purchase of Lloyd Helicopters and his current interests in major helicopter operator Bond Air Services and UK regional airline Logan Air; Mr Hugh Jones, CEO of New Zealand based operator Airwork; and Australian aviation services company, Aeromil.

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