eastwest101
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- Qantas
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No surprise really - although they did not have any competition in their OOL-TSV services their fares were totally unrealistic.
Gold Coast route canned | Townsville Bulletin News
[h=1]Gold Coast route canned[/h] ANTHONY GALLOWAY | April 16th, 2012
THE pristine surf beaches of the Gold Coast are no longer a plane flight away for Townsville residents.
Virgin Australia has announced it is cancelling the remaining flights on the airline's Townsville to Gold Coast route, taking effect from May 3.
The flights have been under a cloud ever since the company sold its 74-seat Embraer jets due to heavy losses on local routes. The airline has since flown 95-seat Embraer aircraft and it is understood the route has been unprofitable for some time.
The route began in April 2009 and went from seven to three flights a week in March 2011. The news comes after the airline closed the Townsville to Canberra route in September last year.
Virgin confirmed the closure of the Gold Coast route in a statement yesterday.
"This service has been under review for some time due to its revenue performance," the company said.
"Virgin Australia remains committed to Townsville and continues to operate from other cities including Sydney, Brisbane and Rockhampton."
Virgin has indicated it is going to further focus on its profitable and emerging business class routes between Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Townsville Airport chief operating officer Kevin Gill said it was disappointing news but that it was known for some time the company was going to focus more on the business market.
"We understand like any decision Virgin looked at all options," he said. "They are refocusing on the business market and Gold Coast is a lower-yielding leisure market."
Mr Gills said when the airline was flying the smaller jets on the route it was viable but that the flights weren't being filled in the bigger aircrafts.
He said Townsville Airport was in discussions with a number of airlines to reopen a route to the Gold Coast.
"The discussions won't come to fruition immediately but we'll continue these discussions," he said. He said the closure of the route wouldn't significantly impact on the operation of the airport. "It was only three times a week and the traditional route via Brisbane continues," he said.
He said Gold Coast's light rail project connecting parts of the city's north would make it easier to travel to the city via Brisbane.
Gold Coast route canned | Townsville Bulletin News
[h=1]Gold Coast route canned[/h] ANTHONY GALLOWAY | April 16th, 2012
THE pristine surf beaches of the Gold Coast are no longer a plane flight away for Townsville residents.
Virgin Australia has announced it is cancelling the remaining flights on the airline's Townsville to Gold Coast route, taking effect from May 3.
The flights have been under a cloud ever since the company sold its 74-seat Embraer jets due to heavy losses on local routes. The airline has since flown 95-seat Embraer aircraft and it is understood the route has been unprofitable for some time.
The route began in April 2009 and went from seven to three flights a week in March 2011. The news comes after the airline closed the Townsville to Canberra route in September last year.
Virgin confirmed the closure of the Gold Coast route in a statement yesterday.
"This service has been under review for some time due to its revenue performance," the company said.
"Virgin Australia remains committed to Townsville and continues to operate from other cities including Sydney, Brisbane and Rockhampton."
Virgin has indicated it is going to further focus on its profitable and emerging business class routes between Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Townsville Airport chief operating officer Kevin Gill said it was disappointing news but that it was known for some time the company was going to focus more on the business market.
"We understand like any decision Virgin looked at all options," he said. "They are refocusing on the business market and Gold Coast is a lower-yielding leisure market."
Mr Gills said when the airline was flying the smaller jets on the route it was viable but that the flights weren't being filled in the bigger aircrafts.
He said Townsville Airport was in discussions with a number of airlines to reopen a route to the Gold Coast.
"The discussions won't come to fruition immediately but we'll continue these discussions," he said. He said the closure of the route wouldn't significantly impact on the operation of the airport. "It was only three times a week and the traditional route via Brisbane continues," he said.
He said Gold Coast's light rail project connecting parts of the city's north would make it easier to travel to the city via Brisbane.
