QantasLink today launched a new West Australian route, operating its inaugural commercial service between Perth and Geraldton.

The airline's 74-seat Q400 aircraft will fly to Geraldton and back twice per day from Monday to Friday and once per day on Saturday and Sunday.

Qantas Group Executive Rob Gurney said the flights would open up the region and its key attractions, including the Abrolhos Islands off the coast of Geraldton, to more visitors than ever.

"These new QantasLink services have been timed to offer our customers simple and straightforward connections to Qantas' domestic and international networks," Mr Gurney said.

"The City of Greater Geraldton and the regional tourism industry have been very supportive and we look forward to making these services work for the local community and the business, mining and resources sectors."

QantasLink is also enhancing its Perth-Exmouth services. From today Q400 aircraft will begin operating on the route -- in addition to Boeing 717s -- and from January flight frequencies will increase from two to 11 return services per week*.

The new services will operate twice daily from Monday to Friday, with one service on Sunday, providing an additional 872 seats per week on the route.

*Subject to Government and Department of Defence approvals

Background

As the country's largest regional airline, QantasLink is embedded in regional Australia. With a network of 56 metropolitan and country destinations across all states and territories, the airline also launched its first international destination -- Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea -- in July 2010. Services linking Perth and Exmouth in Western Australia commenced on March 30.

QantasLink has invested more than AU$850 million in 28 new Q400 aircraft since 2006, with the current fleet of 25 Q400 aircraft to grow to 28 over the next 18 months. The airline's fleet also includes five Q200, 16 Q300 and 11 B717 aircraft.

QantasLink is also overseeing the operation of the Qantas Group's recently purchased Western Australian resources charter airline Network Aviation. Its fleet of nine aircraft is set to grow further, with the addition of a further 10 Fokker F100s.

Contributed by Qantas Airways Limited