The Qantas Group is changing its Mackay schedule and will increase capacity and frequency on the Brisbane-Mackay route from April 2006.The changes will also see Jetstar withdraw its three weekly Sydney-Mackay services from 24 March.

Qantas Executive General Manager John Borghetti said that under the new schedule, the Qantas Group would offer:

* 20 weekly Jetstar return services between Brisbane and Mackay, all operated by 177-seater A320 aircraft; and

* double-daily QantasLink services between Brisbane and Mackay on new 72-seater Q400 aircraft, replacing Qantas’ daily Boeing 737 services.

“We believe the extra frequencies between Brisbane and Mackay - including a new early morning departure from Mackay at 6.45 am and a return evening service leaving Brisbane at 6.35 pm - will be welcomed by the local business community,” Mr Borghetti said.

“The new schedule will not only offer a greater choice of flight times, with five flights a day between Brisbane and Mackay, but will also enable business customers a same-day departure and return on the route,” he said.

Jetstar’s move from Boeing 717s to an all-A320 service on the route will also mean more than 1,000 additional seats each week between Brisbane and Mackay.

“Qantas flights from Sydney and Melbourne will offer direct connections in Brisbane to QantasLink’s new Mackay services,” Mr Borghetti said.

Mr Borghetti said that from 26 February, QantasLink would also:

* increase capacity between Mackay and Townsville and Cairns by 26 per cent, adding 420 seats each week; and

* upgrade aircraft on services from Rockhampton and Gladstone to Mackay, adding more than 330 seats each week.
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