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Regional carrier Link Airways has launched the first-ever non-stop service between Canberra and Launceston, with the inaugural flight touching down in northern Tasmania today.
The route operates four times per week - on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays - using Saab 340B Plus turboprop aircraft, adding 14,000 seats annually to Tasmania's aviation capacity.
The service is backed by the Tasmanian Government's Aviation Attraction Fund in partnership with Canberra Airport and Launceston Airport.
Tasmania welcomed 60,000 visitors from the ACT and surrounding regions last year, and the new route is designed to capture a greater share of that travel market by removing the need to connect through Melbourne or Sydney.
Launceston Airport CEO Katie Cooper says Link Airways becomes the airport's fifth carrier, describing the route as a significant addition to services.
“Whether it’s your first visit to Parliament House, your first glimpse of Cataract Gorge, or simply a long-overdue reunion, this new service opens the door to seamless two-way travel and invites more people to discover everything our region has to offer," says Cooper.
“Through a mix of seasonal and year-round services we now have direct connections to all mainland state capitals and the national capital, which puts our region within easy reach of millions of Australians."
The new service was announced in February with the first flight completed today, lifting the number of domestic destinations into Canberra to 12.
“New direct flights from Canberra to Launceston with Link Airways make it easy to enjoy Tasmania’s foodie scene, cool climate wines and stunning natural landscapes, all without stopovers," says Canberra Airport’s head of aviation Michael Thomson.
"The service also gives visitors from Northern Tasmania a convenient way to explore everything Canberra has to offer.”
Flights depart Canberra at 11:30am and arrive in Launceston at 1:20pm local time, with the return service departing at 1:50pm and landing at 3:35pm.
The route is codeshared with Virgin Australia, allowing passengers to earn Velocity Frequent Flyer points.
Jeff Boyd, Link Airways' manager of network strategy, says the direct connection will benefit business and leisure travellers on both sides of Bass Strait by improving accessibility between the two cities.
"Through Link Airway's codeshare partnership with Virgin Australia, it also establishes new, convenient connections for travellers, offering excellent connectivity because of Virgin Australia's vast route network," says Boyd.
The Tasmanian Government committed $5 million over four years to the Aviation Attraction Fund to enable Tasmania to increase air capacity in the state's market.
The Canberra-Launceston route comes on the heels of a new seasonal direct route between Hobart and Newcastle launched in December, which also was supported by the fund.
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