A week after announcing the return of its mystery flights, Qantas has more good news; it’s unveiling three new routes, set to take travellers back to the snow without the lengthy drive.
In an announcement on Wednesday, the airline revealed that from July 1 to September 26, 2021, Qantas will run three new flights to Cooma and Albury. Following an understandably quiet ski season in 2020, the new flights are sure to help open up new access to some of Victoria and New South Wales’ best and most popular snowy destinations.
The new flights, leaving from Brisbane and Sydney will be operating regularly over winter, with Sydney to Cooma and Brisbane to Albury flying three days a week, and Brisbane to Albury two times a week.
This should come as incredible news to Aussie snow-fans, as it allows increased access to domestic ski-fields, which are in much higher demand as international travel remains at a standstill.
From Cooma, it’s easy to access Perisher Valley, Thredbo and Charlotte Pass, while Albury customers can access Falls Creek and Hotham resorts.
All flights will be operated by QantasLink’s turboprop Q400 aircraft, offering more than 15,000 seats on the routes through winter. So yes, expect queues at the ski-lifts.
“We’re expecting these flights will be popular with skiers and snowboarders who might not have been able to hit the slopes through COVID last season in Australia or overseas.” QantasLink CEO John Gissing said.
According to Gissing, the aim of the new Qantas flights is to maximise lifestyle benefits and reduce travel time. The Sydney to Cooma route, for example, is timed to allow travellers to depart after work on Thursday or Friday and return Sunday evening.
“Our new direct flights to Cooma and Albury will mean ski enthusiasts can spend less time on the road and more time on the mountain. We’ll be working with the major ski resorts and transport operators to promote these new flights to millions of our frequent flyers around the country, with connections from our large domestic network through Sydney or Brisbane making a trip to the snowfields more accessible,” Gissing said.
“These new flights are also good news for local businesses, hospitality and tour operators in the region, helping drive tourism and reviving the industry that has been hurting from COVID-19.”
With all one-way tickets priced under $300, Qantas is also offering unlimited flight changes through to at least February 2022, for flights booked until at least the end of April 2021.
Find all the information on the Qantas website.
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