QF to fly BENDIGO to SYD!

Virgin Bart

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https://www.theage.com.au/business/...city-s-first-in-30-years-20181210-p50l83.html



Bendigo will be connected to Sydney with regular flights operated by Qantas starting early next year, marking the first regular commercial airline services out of the Victorian city in more than three decades.

Qantas announced on Monday it would operate return flights six days a week from the historic gold-rush town, increasing to daily flights during the peak summer period, using QantasLink's 50-seat Bombardier Q300 turboprop aircraft.

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Qantas said the service was launched in response to demand from local businesses that needed an easier way to get to Sydney. CREDIT:BLOOMBERG

QantasLink chief executive John Gissing said the new service, to start on March 31, was in response to demand from local businesses that needed an easier way to get to Sydney, and was made possible by recent upgrades to Bendigo Airport.

“No airline has ever offered regular passenger flights between Bendigo and Sydney– so these flights are a win for both travellers and tourism," Mr Gissing said.


"Direct flights will offer a more convenient way to do business in Sydney, saving travellers around four hours driving time on a round trip instead of flying via Melbourne."

Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas said the route would boost tourism and business opportunities, and estimated it would attract nearly 15,000 visitors to Victoria's fourth-largest city a year.

"That’s great news for local cafes, motels, restaurants and the Bendigo economy,” he said.

The state government tipped in $4.7 million from its Regional Aviation Fund and the City of Greater Bendigo contributed $5 million to recent upgrades to Bendigo Airport, which included a new hangar and runway.

Like most regional airports, Bendigo's is owned and operated by the local council.


QantasLink, the airline's regional arm, already flies to 56 destination around Australia, including Melbourne and Mildura, while Qantas' budget arm Jetstar also flies out of Avalon, near Geelong.

The service will operate morning flights from Bendigo to Sydney from Monday to Saturday, and afternoon flights from Sydney to Bendigo from Sunday to Friday.
 
Did not see that one coming great work!

Ballarat would be great one day too!

Will try and do the first flight $129 launch fares.
 
Na booked a Bendigo-Syd-Bendigo day trip.

On the first flight from there anyway.
 
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I'm mildly surprised there's sufficient market for this.

However, a $15m or airport redevelopment (1600m runway, new taxiways, lighting upgrades etc in 2017). Plus launch support from Vic Gov, Visit Vic and City of bendigo. So clearly keen to get service to Bendigo.

Will be interesting to see if it lasts beyond the startup funding period.

$129 e/w launch fare
$440 the regular flex fare (for comparison with other routes)

0855 dep ex-Bendigo
1725 arr 1925 ex-SYD

Looks like the aircraft stays overnight in Bendigo. What's minimum rest for Dash8 crews - late arrival may push into late departures next morning. Also will fog/low cloud base, particularly in winder, be an issue?
 
Surprised. If anything since the airport upgrade, thought this might be a Rex type route. Seems to be geared to business traffic - day trip to Sydney. No doubt Bendigo Bank will be a main target for the route.
 
Population is over 100,000 and add in nearby surrounding areas and it’s 200k.
 
Gosh now there’s a laudable project to visit all QF Australian destinations.

Finishing up in Bendigo ,,,, to ride a tram down Main Street....

I wonder if there’s a list by year of when each destination joined the network ?
 
Bendigo has a plethora of great attractions for inbound tourism making Bendigo one of Victoria's most thriving regional cities including:
- The Deborah Goldmine, Deep Mine shaft tours underground.
- Golden Dragon Museum, Promoting the long history and relevance of the Chinese community in Bendigo.
- Bendigo Art Gallery - an Art Gallery that pulls above its weight for a regional city.
- Sacred Heart Cathedral - an impressive piece of architecture
- Bendigo Tramways Depot - Great Vintage Tramrides and the Resident Superintendent " Birney the Cat" available for pats at the Depot. :cool:
- Outstanding Regional Cuisine at many of the great restaurants in the city.
- Railtrails - In particular the 50km O'Keefe Railtrail to Heathcote makes for great sightseeing.

+ many more not mentioned.
 
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I'm interested in the idea. Anyone know the schedule/prices off hand so I don't have to search?

www.ptv.vic.gov.au. From memory last train to Melbourne is around 9pm on weeknights. Also one around 8pm I think. Used to be much earlier but recently added additional service. Airport to station around 7 or 8 mins.
 
www.ptv.vic.gov.au. From memory last train to Melbourne is around 9pm on weeknights. Also one around 8pm I think. Used to be much earlier but recently added additional service. Airport to station around 7 or 8 mins.

Cost of a 2 Hour Fare $22.82 (off peak / weekend)
 
Seems an unusual SYD arrival time. Missing many international connections.
 
Seems an unusual SYD arrival time. Missing many international connections.

I'd be willing to give it a go to/from SIN, but inbound to Australia is the real problem for connections for me. Outbound is OK.

Also, some days connections will be OK! SYD arrival time is quite variable:
M 0855/1045
T,F 0910/1100
W,S 0630/820
T 0725/0915
 

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