Tigerair Australia has made a number of changes to its North Queensland schedules, including the launch of flights between Sydney and the Whitsunday Coast (Proserpine).
Sydney-Mackay flights have been dropped in favour of the three weekly return services to Proserpine, which the airline says will deliver Sydneysiders to the Whitsundays’ doorstep every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, providing 56,000 additional visitor seats annually through Whitsunday Coast Airport.
At the same time the airline announced further changes to its Mackay schedule. Services between Melbourne and Mackay have recently benefited from increases over the peak summer travel period and will continue to increase again from April 2014 as part of the new season schedule.
Flights between Sydney and Mackay will continue over the peak Christmas, New Year and entire January period and will cease operations from February 1, 2014.
“We have witnessed overwhelming demand from budget travellers wanting to gain easy access to Airlie Beach and surrounding areas,” said Tigerair Australia Commercial Director, Carly Brear.
“Our decision to introduce the new Sydney – Whitsunday Coast route, whilst removing the Sydney – Mackay service, is based on consumer demand.
“A direct service between Sydney and Whitsunday Coast will be a coup for budget travellers, in particular the all-important backpacker market.
“We look forward to working with the Whitsundays community to provide a much needed boost to local tourism and we’re confident residents will welcome the direct flights to Sydney as well,” Brear said.
Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Cr Jennifer Whitney warmly welcomed the news from Tigerair.
“The new services are just what the region needs,” she said. “Direct connectivity to Sydney by Tigerair will provide a welcome boost to the region’s Tourism industry and broader economy.
“These new services will provide more than 1000 seats per week through Whitsunday Coast Airport providing a conservative economic value to the region by way of inbound passenger spend in excess of AUD$6 million per annum, the multiplier effect throughout the region’s economy will lead to further growth and job development across the region.
“The Whitsunday Coast Airport’s growth and development is the number one priority for Council as owner operators of the facility and building a new partnership with Tigerair helps to achieve our goals for the region,” she said.