QANTAS has confirmed it will re-introduce some of the seven Devonport-Melbourne flights it axed earlier this month.
The Flying Kangaroo earlier announced it would be cutting Devonport flights from 27 a week to 20 a week, with larger Q400 aircraft on the way, which are 30 per cent faster and capable of carrying 78 passengers, compared to the current Q300s with a capacity of 50.
However, after considerable lobbying, the airline says it has heard the community and will re-introduce 6.30 am departures on Monday and Tuesday morning from the end of January.
QANTAS is also planning to cut services between Burnie and Melbourne as well, but there’s been no word of a back-down there yet.
Devonport Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Claire Connelly says the chamber remains concerned about the overall reduction in flight frequency, it welcomes the move to reinstate the early morning flights.
QANTAS saying the number of flights in and out of the North-West Coast will remain reduced while pilots are re-trained, including throughout the upcoming summer tourism season.
The first Q400 is scheduled to operate out of Devonport in December, with Burnie following suit by April next year.
