Qantas today launched an additional 1,700 seats per week on services between Melbourne and Tasmania.
Celebrating the additional capacity in Hobart today, along with Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings, QantasLink.
Executive Manager John Gissing said the extra services will give customers more flexibility.

”QantasLink’s new Q400 aircraft services between Melbourne and Hobart will complement Qantas’ Boeing 737 services operating on the route to give travellers more options throughout the day,” said Mr Gissing.

“Launceston and Devonport will also benefit, with more seats now available to-and-from-Melbourne through an increased flight schedule and upgrades to the larger Q400 aircraft.”

Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings said Tasmania is hot property in the tourism sector at the moment, with Hobart recently named in Lonely Planet’s top 10 places to visit in 2013.

“These additional Qantas flights will ensure that we can take advantage of this invaluable exposure as we enter the peak summer tourist season.”

“We know that visitors to Tasmania spend an average of more than $1500 and stay for around 11 days. Onthat basis the addition of 1700 seats a week has the potential to pump around $100m annually into the Tasmanian economy creating significant new job opportunities.”

“I would like to thank Qantas for their ongoing commitment to services in Tasmania.”

The Qantas Group - including Qantas, QantasLink and Jetstar – now operates more than 230 return services
per week to ports across Tasmania.

In May 2012, Jetstar announced an increase of 28 return services per week to Hobart and Launceston resulting in an extra 10,000 seats per week to Tasmania.

Qantas also celebrated the opening of a new Qantas Regional Lounge in the redeveloped Devonport airport terminal. Offering a comfortable and contemporary space for customers to relax prior to their flight, the new
lounge will provide customers with wireless internet and premium refreshments.

“Our Devonport Qantas Regional Lounge demonstrates Qantas’ commitment to our domestic customers and our continued investment in the regional lounge experience,” said Mr Gissing.

Qantas currently offers eligible customers in Tasmania access to three lounges - two Qantas Regional Lounges in Devonport and Launceston and one Qantas Club Lounge in Hobart.