Qantas expands in Western Australia with new routes and aircraft

Qantas has announced that it is putting on more flights -- and adding larger aircraft -- to and around Western Australia.

On the Perth-Exmouth route, a Boeing 717 will open services up with flights three times a week, starting on 31 March.

“Across all of its flying brands, the Qantas Group is the largest airline operating into and within Western Australia,” Qantas' Ian Gay said.

Mr Gay, who is Qantas' Regional General Manager Western Australia and Northern Territory, also highlighted Qantas' ambitions in the state: "We also welcome the Government’s decision to deregulate the Perth-Geraldton route and will now assess options around a possible future operation to Geraldton."

Qantas is also stationing a Boeing 737-800 aircraft in Perth, which will add almost 7,000 extra seats on flights from the Western Australia capital to Broome, Kalgoorlie, Karratha, Newman, Paraburdoo and Port Hedland.

With last week's announcement of the Virgin Blue and Skywest partnership, the Western Australia market is certainly hotting up -- and not just within the state.

Four additional flights on A330 widebody aircraft from Perth to Melbourne will start on 17 April. Flights can be booked from 1 February.

John Walton

Aviation journalist and travel columnist John took his first long-haul flight when he was eight weeks old and hasn't looked back since. Well, except when facing rearwards in business class.