Virgin Australia Confirms ATR 72 Plans

Virgin Australia will use its new ATR 72-500s on its existing routes from Sydney to Canberra and Port Macquarie as well as to introduce new flights from Brisbane to Gladstone and Port Macquarie, all from October 31. The turboprops are being operated on its behalf by Skywest Airlines under an ACMI agreement signed earlier this year. It is due to receive four examples by the year-end from Singapore-based lessor Avation, with a further 14 on order.

The 70-seat turboprops will replace the airline’s Embraer 170s on the two Sydney routes and at the same time will boost the frequency of the Canberra route by increasing the weekly flight count to 60. Virgin Australia currently handles a 23 per cent share of the traffic on this route, approximately 212,000 of the 926,000 O&D passengers that flew between the destinations in the past year, while it has a 33 per cent share of the 174,000 O&D passenger Sydney - Port Macquarie market. The airline has seen its share of traffic on each route reduce in the past 12 months as Qantas has strengthened its own position in these domestic markets through its QantasLink subsidiary.

The Brisbane – Gladstone route will be operated twice every weekday and will place the airline in direct competition with QantasLink and Strategic Airlines. Regional carrier Qantas Link dominates the market with a 96 per cent share of the 187,000 O&D passengers that flew between the two destinations in the past year and this is now surprise given that it offers up to eight Bombardier Dash 8 flights every weekday. Strategic Airlines offers a twice daily weekday flight but uses a larger Airbus 320 on its own services.

Meanwhile, flights between Brisbane and Port Macquarie on the New South Wales mid-north coast will be operated once every weekday and will mean passengers will no longer need to transit via Sydney when visiting Queensland. An estimated 11,000 O&D passengers travelled on the route in the past year with around 45 per cent flying with Virgin Australia via Sydney. Regional carrier Brindabella Aviation has served this market directly over the past year on a charter basis, carrying around 5,000 passengers.

According to Virgin Australia Group’s Executive of Alliance, Network and Yield, Merren McArthur, the introduction of the two new routes reflects the airline’s commitment to the expansion of its regional network. “We are adding services to two unique regional markets to provide guests with more choice and more convenient schedules to connect with our domestic and international services and partner airlines,” She said. “Gladstone is a booming city with a thriving economy that supports the resources, tourism and primary production sectors. We have introduced a schedule to suit both the corporate and leisure traveller in this very important market.”