Illawarra Regional Airport Wollongong has a new provider of passenger services to and from Brisbane and Melbourne – with the flight schedule and highly competitive AUD 199 one-way airfares revealed within hours of the announcement.
Fly Corporate will reintroduce flights to the Queensland and Victorian capitals as early as12 November 2018, the Illawarra Mercury reported.
The carrier was one of two airlines to bid to run regular services after the collapse of former operator JetGo earlier this year.
A statement from Fly Corporate yesterday said that from Monday 12 November 2018, morning flights would depart Wollongong at 6.15am with an 8am arrival in Melbourne.
The return service will depart Melbourne at 8.35am and arrive in Wollongong at 10.10am. Afternoon flights will depart Wollongong at 1.55pm with a 3.40pm arrival in Melbourne. The return service will depart Melbourne at 4.15pm and arrive in Wollongong at 6pm.
Additionally, from the same date eight weekly services between Wollongong and Brisbane will also be offered, operating on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Fly Corporate chief executive Andrew Major noted that the service would not only operate to Melbourne and Brisbane, but would also provide a convenient and cost-effective alternative to Sydney for people wanting to connect to other domestic and international destinations.
Regarding Melbourne, Major went on to say that “we have chosen to operate this service utilising Melbourne’s Essendon Airport given its close proximity to the Melbourne CBD, lack of airport congestion together with economical car parking and City transfer options.
“For passengers inbound to Melbourne wanting to connect on to other domestic and international destinations, there is a free shuttle bus connecting Essendon and Tullamarine airports”.
Corporate Air, which operates the Fly Corporate services, has been in business since 1972.
Chief executive of Melbourne’s Essendon Airport, Chris Cowan, stated: “Fly Corporate is exactly the right airline to provide a reliable and regular service to connect Illawarra to Melbourne.
“This direct service will save hours on a trip via Sydney and Melbourne Airport. We are currently in the process of a five-million-dollar upgrade to our terminal and are allowing plenty of extra space to cater for the anticipated growth of this important service.”
Fly Corporate’s regional network includes Armidale, Biloela (Thangool), Brisbane, Coffs Harbour, Dubbo, Inverell, Melbourne, Moree, Narrabri, Orange, Sydney, Tamworth and Wollongong.
Ticket prices on the new services from Wollongong start from AUD 199 one-way in online deals. Other fare types include ‘discount’ fares of AUD 299; ‘saver’ fares of AUD 389 and ‘flexible’ fares – fully refundable before scheduled departure – of AUD 499.
Written by Peter Needham
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