Link Airways have announced a new route directly connecting Bundaberg and Brisbane together. Commencing on Monday 14 November, flights will occur 6 days a week.
Link Airways connects Bundaberg and Brisbane
Link Airways’ flagship aircraft, the Saab 340B Plus, is set to fly the route between Bundaberg and Brisbane. As a 34-passenger seat turboprop aircraft, it is one of the most advanced aircraft of its type in service today. The full inflight service will provide hot and cold beverages, including complimentary beer and wine on afternoon and evening flights, comfortable seating, large and easy-to-access overhead bins and an onboard lavatory.
The flight time is set to be just over 50 minutes, an enticing option for many. The airline prides itself on its reliability as well as its fuel efficiency, which will see it be considered for those who are conducting business trips to those who are simply wanting a holiday.
As reported by Bundaberg Now, Link Airways CEO Andrew Major is proud to see the airline provide more connectivity across northern Queensland.
“We see strong demand for additional direct flights and the proposed service will facilitate further leisure and business links between the two regions,” he said.
An opportunity for the airline
Bundaberg Regional Airport is located 6km from Bundaberg CBD and is currently serviced by Qantaslink, Life Flight and RFDS.
With flights set to start at $186 one way, this is already more affordable than Qantas’ offerings. As an Australian-owned and operated company, Link Airways has the potential to capture some of Qantas’ market share as the ‘flying kangaroo’ finds itself trying to win back its reputation with the Australian public.
The announcement of the new route is already having positive reactions from the public as Bundaberg Airport will hold a monopoly no more. The introduction of Bonza airlines later this year will also hold competition against Qantas, giving locals a choice and pushing competitive pricing options.
Greg Barrington, Airport Manager at Bundaberg Regional Airport has stated his content in a LinkedIn post for the airline’s arrival.
“Looking forward to welcome Link Airways to the rum city. Exciting times at Bundaberg Airport as we work out how to give both Link Airways and Bonza Airways a perfect start.”
Behind the airline
Link Airways currently operates from Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney, connecting the cities to regional destinations across New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania. Alongside the Saab 340 Plus, its fleet also includes the 19-passenger seat Metro 23 aircraft.
Established in 1972, the carrier is owned by Corporate Air, a corporate air charter and FIFO service provider, where ‘safety, reliability and flexibility are their highest priorities. It is one of the largest and longest established aviation service providers in eastern Australia.
The airline is regularly establishing new routes and initiatives to connect more passengers, particularly in eastern and southern Australia, with other new route announcements, including direct flights from Canberra and Coffs Harbour, as well as direct flights between Tamworth and Sydney. The airline’s announcements of these connections are being well praised by many, particularly as a response to the impact of the pandemic and the inability to travel freely.
Link Airways and Velocity
Link Airways has recently announced its new partnership with Velocity Frequent Flyer. Effective from August 22nd, passengers with the airline will have their loyalty rewarded by earning Velocity Points through the program. The number of Velocity Points earned with Link Airways is based on the fare class and dollars spent on the ticket, meaning the higher the fare type, the more Points that are earned.
For those flyers booking Deal or Standard fares, two points per every dollar spent with Link Airways will be gained. For Freedom and Flexible fares, five points per every dollar will be earned.
As a further initiative, Link Airways has announced complimentary Virgin Australia lounge access for all passengers travelling on Flexible and Freedom fares. The lounges based in Brisbane, Sydney and Canberra provide a space to relax and unwind before a flight.
Velocity Frequent Flyer is the loyalty program of Virgin Australia. The program endeavours to make it easier for members to get to their dream rewards sooner, with Points being able to be used on options including flights, upgrades, hotels, products and gift cards. The Frequent Flyer’s biggest competition is Qantas’ own frequent flyer program.
Link Airways’ partnership with Velocity Frequent Flyer, a well-known and established initiative, will possibly see new and returning customers more inclined to use the airline. It also presents itself as a further opportunity to capture more market share across Australian destinations, including the upcoming Bundaberg and Brisbane route.
The growth of Link Airways and its services is providing more opportunities for regional Australia to connect with its cities and is giving passengers a choice of choosing who they fly with, forcing competitors to acknowledge their strong re-emergence post-pandemic.
