QantasLink now flies to Toowoomba’s new privately-owned ‘Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport’ (BWWA), with 11 return flights each week from Sydney.
A Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 aircraft bearing the name 'Darling Downs' christened the route, with the plane named in honour of the region.
BWWA is Australia’s first privately-funded public airport and the first public airport to be built in 50 years.
Complete with a 2.87km runway, it’s capable of landing a Boeing 747 jumbo – but for now, its main visitor will be the QantasLink Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 turboprop aircraft.
“Qantas’ history began in Queensland over 94 years ago, so we’re delighted to be part of this important milestone in Queensland’s history,” said QantasLink CEO John Gissing.
Passengers travelling from BWWA will enjoy “seamless connections to domestic and international Qantas services” in Sydney, Gissing added.
Although titled ‘Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport’, the airport actually sits nearly 150km from Brisbane – around two hours by car.
Rather, the airport is located in Wellcamp, on the western side of Toowoomba and roughly 15 minutes’ drive from the centre of the Garden City.
Passengers on the east coast can already reach Toowoomba’s existing and aptly-named Toowoomba Airport from Brisbane with Skytrans Airlines, and can also connect via Sydney from cities such as Melbourne, Adelaide, Hobart and Perth.
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Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
10 Jan 2012
Total posts 258
I don't want to sound too cynical... but QFLink must have lots of spare Q400's lying around if they can afford fly them empty 22x a week.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Mar 2013
Total posts 47
Being cynical is okay....but Qantaslink now has some spare capacity from the cancellation of Sydney-Gladstone which finished a couple of days ago. Add that capacity to normal capacity flexibility and that's probably where the capacity is coming from.
There may even be some capacity from reduced mining services....I don't know if there is but with the slowdown it is possible that Qantaslink has reduced some FIFO services.
I will say that I don't know for sure, but this is perhaps where the capacity has come from :)
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
10 Jan 2012
Total posts 258
And they need to give the pilots and cabin crew something to do...
However now that Skytrans are terminating TWB-SYD, QF will have the monopoly. Although they need to change the name. It's almost like calling CBR 'Sydney West'.
25 Oct 2014
Total posts 3
Why would they be empty?
They sold over 1000 seats just in the fist week of flights being available!
As I mentioned before, wellcamp airport has the 11th biggest catchment in australia, so i doubt there will be too many if any empty flights!
29 Apr 2011
Total posts 8
The SYD-WTB route is one of the best-selling launches in recent history for QF!
They'll have no trouble filling seats, that's for sure.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
11 Aug 2014
Total posts 51
I agree since skytrans would be terminating the route it probably says something about how profitable the route actually will be with qantas
25 Oct 2014
Total posts 3
Andrew,
Skytrans did not terminate the route due to it not being profitable. It was because the new airport was built and qantas ended up servicing that route. it wouldnt have been profitable for them to compete against qantas.
Wellcamp airport actually has the 11th biggest catchment in Australia, with over 300,000 people.
Looking forward to when the service starts next month, and to more direct flights to other cities!
25 Oct 2014
Total posts 3
2 Airlines will service the airport now.
Rex Airlines has won the 2 regional qld routes, to fly from wellcamp airport.
Hoping virgin will come to the party sooner or later!
19 May 2014
Total posts 40
Emirates will be flying wellcamp to dubai direct twice daily 777 three class configuration.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
19 Feb 2014
Total posts 439
With their dreadful 3x4x3 config.
24 Apr 2015
Total posts 128
told average load factor in the 70's (some flights close to 100% other closer to 50%).
Heard Toowoomba will be announcing a new route soon.
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