Mayor Doug Curran (far left) with Qantas crew in front of the new ‘Griffith’ plane. Photo: Griffith City Council.
Griffith is getting two extra Qantas return flights to Sydney each week, giving travellers Monday morning and Friday morning options that were previously unavailable.
The new services will operate on Fridays, departing Sydney at 6:05 am and Griffith at 8:05 am, and Mondays, departing Sydney at 5 pm and Griffith at 6:55 pm. The first Monday flights will start from 2 November and the first Friday flight on 6 November. A return flight to Sydney on the weekend of 6-9 November can be booked for $498.
The airline has also named one of its 78-seat Q400 aircraft ‘Griffith’, with the aircraft touching down at Griffith Regional Airport on Tuesday (8 September).
QantasLink CEO Mark Dal Pra said the additional aircraft and services reflected the airline’s commitment to regional Australia.
“As an airline born in outback Australia, we are proud of the role we play in keeping regional communities connected,” he said.
“Our continued investment in our Q400 fleet is an important part of our ability to serve regional Australia into the future.”
The boost comes after air travel in the Riverina has faced a series of challenges, including the loss of Qantas’ direct Wagga Wagga and Albury flights to Melbourne earlier this year.
Qantas ended those services from 1 March, citing declining demand, with many recent Wagga-Melbourne flights operating at less than half capacity. The decision left Rex as the only airline providing a direct Wagga-Melbourne service.
Griffith has also faced concerns about the cost of flying, particularly for passengers needing to travel at short notice.
Region reported last year that a return Griffith-Sydney trip for a Sunday-to-Monday journey was priced at $1309 on Qantas and $940 on Rex, based on fares available through Expedia at the time.
Qantas said fares above $1000 were rare and generally occurred when flights were booked at very short notice and only a small number of seats remained.
Wagga local Tina Stapleton thinks regional airfares are ridiculous. Photo: Erin Hee.
At present, return flights for the weekend booked in advance can be bought for $500 to $600.
Griffith Mayor Doug Curran welcomed the recent developments.
“Having a Qantas aircraft named after Griffith is a fantastic recognition of our city and the important role our regional airport plays in connecting our community with Sydney and beyond,” he said.
“The additional services are also great news for our residents, businesses and visitors, providing more choice and greater flexibility when travelling.
“This is a strong vote of confidence in Griffith and our region, and we look forward to continuing to build on our relationship with Qantas.”
For a city whose direct air links are now limited to Sydney, the extra Monday and Friday services provide two more opportunities each week to make the trip.
