CHEAPER fares on new direct jet passenger services between Wagga and Brisbane will not be restricted to an elusive handful of seats each flight, the head of airline Jetgo has proclaimed.
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“There will be a generous allocation of these cheap seats on all flights,” Jetgo’s managing director airlines, Paul Bredereck, said of the $197 starting fares revealed on Sunday with the announcement flights would start on February 13.
He said he was not allowed to reveal the exact number of cheap seats on each flight.
But Mr Bredereck also pointed out the closer to a flight seats were booked the more expensive the fare would become after cheaper seats were snapped up.
Bookings for Jetgo’s first Wagga-Brisbane flights went on sale on Monday, and while Mr Bredereck was not able to gauge ticket sales immediately, he pointed to more than 700 comments on The Daily Advertiser’s Facebook page as an indication of the public’s interest in the proposed service.
Many of the comments, such as Kellie Roberts’ “look out I'm coming to visit and more than once if it only takes a hour and 40 mins”, supported Jetgo targeting what is known as the Visitors Friends Relatives (VFR) market.
“We believe 60 per cent of demand will be people visiting family and friends,” Mr Bredereck said.
“You will find there is this demand for major birthdays, engagements and weddings.”
But he also believes the direct flights will open up business opportunities and markets, including the health sector.
For example, a direct flight makes it more practical for Brisbane-based medical specialists to establish a visiting practice in Wagga.
And the direct flights also open up alternative supply sourcing and marketing opportunities for businesses.
Mr Bredereck ruled out in the short-term at least direct flights between Wagga and Queensland’s Gold and Sunshine coasts.
“The Gold Coast is on the watch list, but definitely not on our radar for the next 12 months,” he said.
“Our priority is to get established.”
The president of the Wagga Business Chamber, Andrew Bell, welcomed Jetgo’s entry to Wagga and the business opportunities it would present the region.
“It certainly opens up Wagga as a business hub,” Mr Bell said.
“The opportunities are limitless.”