Qantas steps up battle for WA market

Qantas steps up battle for WA market
By admin


Qantas will accelerate the introduction of wide-body A330s on all weekday flights between Sydney and Perth and deploy refurbished Boeing 767s between Brisbane and the WA capital during the week by the end of March.

The moves will further intensify competition with Virgin Australia on the trans-continental route as both carriers aggressively target the lucrative business and premium markets.

Qantas domestic chief executive Lyell Strambi said the changes will place Qantas in a position to "better serve" those market segments.

"One of Qantas' key strengths in the domestic market is our wide-body aircraft, which are very popular with our customers," Strambi said. "We will now have wide-body aircraft on all weekday flights between the eastern states and Western Australia."

All midweek Sydney-Perth and Melbourne-Perth flights were due to be operated by Airbus A330 aircraft from May, but the date for the Sydney services will now start more than a month earlier.

"Qantas' A330 aircraft offer superior space and comfort and have individual in-flight entertainment for all of our passengers, making them ideal for longer flights," Strambi said.

Schedules for the new services have been updated and are on sale now.

Meanwhile, 16 of its 767s are being refurbished with new interiors and individual in-flight entertainment through iPads in every business and economy class seat. Six of the aircraft are already in operation.

Strambi said all weekday flights between Brisbane and Perth will be operated by the aircraft from March 31.

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

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