CATCH A TIGER BY THE TAIL

TIGERAIR TOUCHES DOWN

TOWNSVILLE’S first Tigerair flight touched down right on time yesterday with fanfare on the runway and a tiger mascot on board to celebrate.

The inaugural flight left Melbourne at 8.15am and arrived in Townsville at 11.15am.

It marked the beginning of Tigerair Australia’s fourtimes- a- week return flights between Melbourne and Townsville, and a $ 12.5 million annual boost to the North Queensland economy.

The new service, the only direct low- cost daytime flight between the two cities will deliver almost 75,000 additional passenger seats through Townsville Airport each year.

Mayor Jenny Hill said it was a great day for Townsville.

“Finally we have a new air service to join our skies with direct flights now to Mel- bourne at a time that is far more accessible for people in our community,” she said.

“This is a highly positive step for Townsville and will increase our exposure as a destination, especially during the nine months of the year when we have unbeatable weather.”

Tigerair head of communications Vanessa Regan said the airline was thrilled by how Townsville had embraced the airline since the new services were announced.

“The local support we’ve received from our tourism and airport partners in Townsville has been first class and we look forward to working with them to stimulate travel to the region by promoting the many tourism drawcards of Towns- ville to the Melbourne market,” she said.

Brenton and Vanessa Hyde from Melbourne were on yesterday’s inaugural flight, taking their first holiday in five years to escape the southern winter. Mrs Hyde said it was the first flight ever for their children Sullivan, 4, Anderson, 2, and Mackenzie, 1.

“The service was great and we couldn’t fault it,” she said.

Townsville Enterprise CEO Patricia O’Callaghan said the city had worked hard to deliver the new services.

“We want to see this city

THIS IS A HIGHLY POSITIVE STEP FOR TOWNSVILLE AND WILL INCREASE OUR EXPOSURE AS A DESTINATION MAYOR JENNY HILL

recognised not just domestically but globally,” she said.

“This is only the start – we have a lot more to come. “

The new flights have created 10 jobs at Townsville Airport. The return flights are operated on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday.

Pictures: SHAE BEPLATE HAPPY HOLIDAYS: Brenton and Rebecca Hyde, with Sullivan, 4, Anderson, 2, and Mackenzie, 1, are on holiday from Melbourne; ( below) Sarah Castles, Chelsea Sutherland and Kaeli Carrara.