Apparently very strong bookings right through to late-April.  Most planes are full or close to full.  They might need to do the upgrades for Q400 planes quicker than they thought?

Apparently very strong bookings right through to late-April.  Most planes are full or close to full.  They might need to do the upgrades for Q400 planes quicker than they thought?

Very happy to hear this.

Though perhaps REX should jump on the route whilst its going hot and ride the QF bandwagon?

Apparently very strong bookings right through to late-April.  Most planes are full or close to full.  They might need to do the upgrades for Q400 planes quicker than they thought?

Very happy to hear this.

Though perhaps REX should jump on the route whilst its going hot and ride the QF bandwagon?

The issue for REx would be getting extra landing slots at Sydney Airport.

Slightly off topic but lost of talk about extending the life of Qantas Dash 8 since the requested airport upgrades are not likely at Norfolk Island to allow bigger aircraft.

Certainly excellent news on the Bendigo services, makes you wonder what Ballarat could or  might look like?

Slightly off topic but lost of talk about extending the life of Qantas Dash 8 since the requested airport upgrades are not likely at Norfolk Island to allow bigger aircraft.

Certainly excellent news on the Bendigo services, makes you wonder what Ballarat could or  might look like?

Norfolk Island isn't the problem, Lord Howe is.  They can't take a Q400 (or Q300 IIRC)and the Saab340s are not able to do it (I think accreditiation wise, not physically).  The Q200s are in the fleet to do the LDH work and that's it.

Sorry still Off Topic, talking about Lord Howe and aircraft. Agree with Carnot, however will be interesting if Longview does anything with the older Q200 line (along with the others) that it recently acquired from Bombardier. This is the same business that revived the DHC6!

With Lord Howe could an ATR45 do the job? It would meet runway length, but I am unsure of range. Now I am not saying that Qantas would do that as they are renown for their fleet management and are very unlikely to introduce another type, however Qantaslink is does contract out services if it suits the business eg Cobham.

But as discussed the most likely outcome will be a refurb of the older Qs.

LDH is a parricularly challenging airport to deal with from this perspective

Sorry still Off Topic, talking about Lord Howe and aircraft. Agree with Carnot, however will be interesting if Longview does anything with the older Q200 line (along with the others) that it recently acquired from Bombardier. This is the same business that revived the DHC6!

With Lord Howe could an ATR45 do the job? It would meet runway length, but I am unsure of range. Now I am not saying that Qantas would do that as they are renown for their fleet management and are very unlikely to introduce another type, however Qantaslink is does contract out services if it suits the business eg Cobham.

But as discussed the most likely outcome will be a refurb of the older Qs.

None of the ATR-42 series has the range to get to Lord Howe Island, the AT-72 has but needs 4500ft of runway.

woodford

With the announcement from the ALP to provide funding to lengthen the runway at Ballarat should we consider this to be the first step in flight expansion at Ballarat as someone would have requested the money.

With the announcement from the ALP to provide funding to lengthen the runway at Ballarat should we consider this to be the first step in flight expansion at Ballarat as someone would have requested the money.

My earlier pessimism was unfounded.  Putting extra flights on by QF means only one thing.

Some good info here

https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/queensland-skies-get-nod-for-next-qantas-group-pilot-academy-site/

@bevans - Toowoomba.

Alice Springs, Bendigo, Busselton, Dubbo, Launceston, Tamworth and Wagga Wagga were the other contenders.