Qantas will increase capacity between Perth and the Western Australian regional destinations of Kalgoorlie, Newman, Paraburdoo and Port Hedland. Qantas Regional General Manager Western Australia, Mr Ian Gay, said the increases followed earlier capacity increases introduced in June, and were in line with Qantas’ commitment to support the resources sector in Western Australia.

The new services will be:

  * one return Perth-Paraburdoo service operating on Wednesdays, commencing 5 August and one Paraburdoo-Perth service operating on Sundays, commencing 26 October 2008;
  * two return Perth-Kalgoorlie services, operating on Mondays and Fridays, commencing 26 October 2008; and
  * two return Perth-Newman services, operating Tuesdays and Wednesdays and one Perth-Newman service operating on Sundays, commencing 26 October 2008.

Mr Gay said the additional services on these routes would continue the ongoing growth in capacity to the key mining destinations of the state.

“The additional Paraburdoo services will result in an increase of 345 seats each week on this route, and an additional 460 seats each week on the Perth-Kalgoorlie route, taking the number of weekly services between Perth and Kalgoorlie to 21. It will also result in an increase of 575 seats each week on our Perth-Newman services.”

He said Qantas would also increase capacity between Karratha and Brisbane, and would operate a second weekly B737-800 on Thursdays, commencing 26 October 2008.

Mr Gay also announced Qantas would increase capacity on the Perth-Port Hedland route from late February 2009, with a number of services being upgraded from B717 aircraft to B737-800 aircraft.

“These new and upgraded services will result in Qantas operating 146 return flights per week from Perth to the regional destinations of Broome, Kalgoorlie, Karratha, Newman, Paraburdoo and Port Hedland,” Mr Gay said.
——-