QantasLink has announced that it would increase capacity on key routes within Western Australia from 18 February. Qantas Group General Manager Regional Airlines, Mr Narendra Kumar, said the airline had entered into an agreement with Alliance Airlines to operate a 100-seat Fokker 100 aircraft, initially between Perth and Port Hedland and Karratha. “Demand for intra-state air services remains strong in Western Australia, and we are pleased to be able to provide this extra capacity and continue to support the state’s resource boom,” Mr Kumar said. “The Qantas Group currently operates 19 return services per week between Perth and Port Hedland and 35 return services per week between Perth and Karratha. “Under this new arrangement with Alliance Airlines, we will add one additional weekday service on each route, increasing capacity on Perth to Port Hedland by 28 per cent and increasing capacity on Perth to Karratha by 10 per cent.” Mr Kumar said that under the agreement, the aircraft would be operated by Alliance Airline’s pilots and cabin crew and serviced by the company’s engineers. QantasLink currently operates around 2,000 flights each week, serving 52 metropolitan and regional destinations throughout Australia. The airline’s Western Australian network comprises:
——-