Airnorth launches flights between Darwin, Mount Isa and the Gold Coast

Airnorth, Australia’s second longest continuously operating airline [second only to Qantas] will launch new scheduled services from Darwin to Mount lsa and onto the Gold Coast, as it continues to expand its domestic capacity across Australia.

The services commence on 8 October 2009 initially weekly, providing a direct link between Darwin and Mount Isa, and between Mount lsa and the Gold Coast, in time for the peak 2009-2010 holiday season.

“The new flights will allow businesses based in Northern Australia to benefit from a direct link between Darwin and the mining town of Mount lsa as well as utilise the first ever service linking Darwin with the Gold Coast”, Simone Saunders, Deputy Chief Executive of Airnorth said today. “It will provide a perfect opportunity for leisure passengers from the Top End to quickly get to their holiday on the Gold Coast”.

“The route will be operated by one of Airnorth’s new generation E170 jets, the latest of which arrived new from the factory earlier this year. We are launching these services following detailed discussions with representatives of the resources sector in Mount Isa,” Michael Bridge, Chief Executive of Airnorth said. “This initiative provides a logical link between two of Australia’s largest resource areas, Western Queensland and the Top End as well as giving both communities direct access to one of Australia’s favourite holiday regions, the Gold Coast.”

“The travel time between Darwin and Mount lsa will now be less than two hours with a departure time of 6.00am each Thursday. The continuation of the flight through to the Gold Coast is just over two hours enabling passengers to arrive into the Gold Coast well before lunch. The new service will also connect with existing Qantaslink services from Mount lsa providing convenient connections through to Townsville”, Mr Bridge said.

Airfares will start from $199* between Darwin and Mount lsa and $229*from Darwin to the Gold Coast. Reservations can be made at www.airnorth.com.au, the Airnorth Reservations Office on1800 627 474, Qantas on 13 13 13 or your local travel agent.

Flight schedule: (all in local times)

Depart Darwin 6.00am Arrive Mount Isa 8.15am
Depart Mount Isa 8.55am Arrive Gold Coast 11.10am
Depart Gold Coast 11.55am Arrive Mount Isa 2.30pm
Depart Mount Isa 3.10pm Arrive Darwin 4.30pm

Released by:

Sales and Marketing Department

For more information please contact:

Marie-Claire Cull, Sales and Marketing Manager
Phone: (08) 8920 4075 – Mobile: 0422 221 048
Email: marie-claire.cull@airnorth.com.au

More information:
Airnorth flies more than 250,000 passengers each year, more than the Northern Territory’s entire population. Based in Darwin, the company operates regular scheduled flights throughout the Northern Territory, Western Australia and internationally to Timor-Leste. In addition to its scheduled airline services, Airnorth operates contracted air charter services for some of the world’s leading mining and offshore companies including Xstrata, Newmont, BHP Billiton, Alcan, Rio Tinto, ConocoPhillips and Woodside as well as a number of Commonwealth Government agencies.

In April 2009, Airnorth took delivery of its second 76-seat E1l70 Embraer jet and continues to operate a fleet of 19 and 30-seat turbo-prop aircraft.

For further information on fares and schedules, go to www.airnorth.com.au

* Fares are subject to availability, are far one-way travel, include all taxes and fare conditions apply. Credit card surcharges apply. Fares are correct as at 2 September 2009 and are subject to change.