QantasLink Inaugural Cairns-Port Moresby Flight Takes Off

De Havilland DHC-8-400 Dash 8/8 of thetype used on QF191

QantasLink today celebrated the departure of its first international service, operating from Cairns to Port Moresby this morning. Flight QF191 left Cairns just before 7am and touched down in Port Moresby at 8.35am, heralding the first time Qantas has flown into the Papua New Guinea capital since 2002.

QantasLink Executive Manager, Mr Narendra Kumar, said QantasLink was very pleased to offer the new QantasLink Cairns-Port Moresby direct service, initially with a schedule of 12 weekly services.

“QantasLink has invested over $600 million since 2006 in a fleet of 21 new Q400 aircraft, and from today, one of these aircraft will be dedicated to the Cairns-Port Moresby route. At a cost of around $30 million for a Q400, this is a significant investment by QantasLink in the Cairns-Port Moresby markets,” he said.
Mr Kumar said the Q400 offered a superior flying experience, including larger seats, additional ceiling height and jet-like speed completing the journey between Cairns and Port Moresby in around one hour and 45 minutes.

He added that customers would also benefit from the full range of Qantas services such as an inflight food and beverage service, lounge access for eligible members and seamless baggage transfer and connection to other Qantas destinations.

The initial Cairns-Port Moresby schedule will be:
– twice daily Monday-Friday, departing Cairns at 5.45am on Monday and 6.45am Tuesday to
Friday, and departing Port Moresby at 8.15am on Monday and 9.20am Tuesday to Friday;
– a second afternoon departure from Cairns at 3.15pm Monday to Thursday and 4.15pm on
Friday, and from Port Moresby at 5.45pm Monday to Thursday and 6.45pm on Friday; and
– daily weekend flights offering an early morning departure and late afternoon return.

QantasLink is Australia’s largest regional airline, operating about 1900 flights each week to 55 regional and metropolitan destinations.

Issued by Qantas Corporate Communication (4089)