The Qantas Group today announced that Jetstar would replace Qantas mainline operations between Sydney and Townsville from 29 October 2006.

Qantas Executive General Manager John Borghetti said the Group currently offered three Qantas B737 flights and three Jetstar A320 flights each week on the route.

He said that from 29 October, Jetstar would operate a total of five 177-seat A320 services a week for the Qantas Group.

Mr Borghetti said the move to all-Jetstar services between Sydney and Townsville was in line with the Qantas Group's two-brand strategy.

"Sydney-Townsville is predominantly a leisure route, so Jetstar is the most appropriate carrier for these services," Mr Borghetti said.

He said that with 112 return flights a week into Townsville, the Qantas Group was by far the biggest operator in the market.

"Qantas will maintain its 34 return services a week between Brisbane and Townsville, with QantasLink continuing to operate its current schedule of services between Townsville and Cairns, Mackay, Rockhampton and Gladstone."

Mr Borghetti said that from 29 October, the Qantas Group weekly schedule would offer:

• 54 return Brisbane-Townsville services, including 34 operated by Qantas, seven Jetstar services, and 13 operated by QantasLink;
• Five return Sydney-Townsville Jetstar services;
• Three return Melbourne-Townsville Jetstar services;
• 33 return Cairns-Townsville QantasLink services;
• 17 return Mackay-Townsville QantasLink services, including 14 that extend through to Rockhampton and Gladstone.

Jetstar will offer assigned seating on all of its Townsville services and will be supporting its additional new Sydney flights with low promotional fares, Mr Borghetti said.