Rex service set to save North’s travellers $ 4m
Service to Cairns debuts
I NTERNATIONAL t ourists and Townsville business people were among the first passengers aboard a new direct- flight service to Cairns.
This comes as the city’s airport marked less than two months to go before the opening of its international terminal to service flights to Bali.
Regional Express ( Rex) will have three return flights each weekday between Townsville and Cairns and the first took off at 7am yesterday.
Fares started at $ 123.05 and have increased the number of Rex services between the two northern centres from two to 34 flights a week, adding around 60,000 seats a year.
It had been a turbulent 18 months for the city’s regional air market since Virgin Australia’s exit in January 2014.
Rex state manager Steve Jones said the company had been “heavily solicited” to start the service and undertook a market- sounding exercise to gauge exact support.
Mr Jones said that backing had translated into strong sales for the first week of flights.
“Clearly the local business community and university have been crying out for a good, reliable operator, who can deliver reasonable fares on AUSTRALIA’S richest person Gina Rinehart says her father Lang Hancock was devoted to owning an iron ore mine and laments that she believed her family would be happy once she finally achieved that aim.
Mrs Rinehart ( last night told the ABC’s Story her father’s contribution was not fully recognised.
Mr Hancock discovered the Hamersley iron ore deposits in Western Australia’s Pilbara and tried to move from someone who received royalties from iron ore to a part- owner.
The profile presents another side of Mrs Rinehart, whom a NSW judge in May the route,” he said. “We would hope those flight numbers are sustainable; we need people to support us so we are appealing to businesses and the community to give us a try.”
Mr Jones said the new services were estimated to bring savings of around $ 4 million to the North’s travellers, access to cheaper fares and increased connectivity to other areas.
“These flights are a great way for Townsville to leverage said had used tactics bordering on intimidation in the fight for control of the $ 5 billion family trust that he handed to eldest daughter Bianca Rinehart.
Mrs Rinehart said of the legal battles: “This is not the sort of thing Dad would be thrilled with.” off Cairns’ deep roots within the international market already,” he said.
Townsville Airport is continuing works to improve the overall “ambience” of the international area before the start of international flights on September 2.
“Townsville Airport management are working with the relevant government agencies to ensure the facility meets all relevant regulatory standards,” a Queensland Airports spokeswoman said.
“A duty- free store and the addition of a cafe will be the two notable additions when the international terminal reopens.
“Townsville Airport is working with government agencies and relevant staff to ensure adequate training in relation to international operations is completed prior to the commencement of services.”
Plans for the airport’s $ 40 million redevelopment to existing terminal and apron facilities are ongoing.
Ltd RACE driver- in- training Hamishi h Bowen has never seen the V8 supercars, so getting behind the wheel of one of their transporters was just the ticket to rev him up ahead of the weekend’s racing.
Hamish and his family got a sneak peek inside two of the monster- sized trucks before they join a multi- million dollar procession from midday tomorrow, marking the official start to the Castrol EDGE Townsville 400.
This year, the massive B- double transporters will begin the journey from Webb Drive at Bohle, taking a turn down Shaws Rd and along the Ring Road before starting the fanfare along Hervey Range Rd, Ross River Rd and Charters Towers Rd then finishing at Reid Park.
“My boys are really excited for the parade and they have been talking about the V8s every day for weeks,” Hamish’s mother Ali Bowen said.
For the best view, spectators are encouraged to congregate along Hervey Range, Ross River and Charters Towers roads, with no parking permitted along Shaws Rd or the Ring Road.