Possible new airline to Gladstone

[lloyd fox]

New carrier service likely

Kerri-Anne Mesner | 18th November 2010

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FREQUENT flyers in and out of Gladstone could receive some exciting Christmas news in the coming weeks.

The region has been waiting for news about a new carrier service coming to Gladstone due to the $65 million airport upgrade.

Gladstone Regional Council chief executive officer Graeme Kanofski said for other passenger air companies to land craft at Gladstone Airport, security needed to be provided which council was aiming to have in place by the first week of March.

Air companies usually start publicising three months before the first passenger service in and out of a new location.

“We’ve had negotiations with more than one airline that have asked us about coming into Gladstone,” Mr Kanofski said. “We advise them of what our charges and they make the decision of whether they come in or not.”

The Observer has been told Qantas is looking at putting in a Qantas Lounge at the airport, however there was no response from Qantas by time of publication yesterday.

“We have space available for that use if an airline want to talk to us about it,” Mr Kanofski said.

Works are currently being carried out on the terminal building, due for completion in March and Callemondah Drive overpass reopened to traffic on October 16.

A water jet over the top of Qantas flight QF2336 marked the arrival of the first commercial aircraft to land without restriction on the newly extended and reconstructed runway on August 17.

The commissioning of the runway came just 15 months after reconstruction work began, marking a new era in aviation history for the Gladstone Region.

While the runway is now ready to accept larger aircraft, aviation protocols require full passenger and baggage security screening in place for jet aircraft operations.

New fees were introduced at Gladstone Airport on July 1. People parking in the long-term car park will pay $10 for staying longer than two hours, while new fees for the short term carpark jumped from $5 to $20 for staying more than two hours.

THE OBSERVER.18nov 2010

[damian f]

And the new airline will be... Virgin Blue! (well that's what I reckon anyway!!) Damian

[Anthony C]

E-Jets will struggle to take a full load any decent distance especially off runway 28! I'm sure the residents under the approach path to runway 28 will be thrilled at the jets!

[damian f]

HA! I was wrong... the new airlines is STRATEGIC AIRLINES!!!

From the Brisbane Forum...

Showing up on their website to start from 18/4, twice daily weekdays only.

http://www.flystrategic.com.au/LinkClic ... d&tabid=37

Good news for Gladstone, i wasnt even aware they airport could handle an A320/Jet otherwise i thought DJ would have started the route with E-Jets.

Great find Adam P!!

Cheers
Damian

[damian f]

A bit of research reveals that Strategic A320 VH-YQB flew into Gladstone from Brisbane this afternoon on a promo visit.

Biggest plane to land at the airport?

Damian

[Dave Parer]

Received my new updated copy of ERSA yesterday, so I have been checking out Gladstone Airport. Runway at Gladstone was 1635m long. Runway is now 1920m long.

To put that in perspective of other Queensland ports that handle A320 aircraft, Hamilton Islands runway length is 1764m and Mackay runway length is 1981m.

Ballina which also handles A320's has a runway length of 1900m.

I to am very surprised that Virgin Blue did not jump at the opportunity to operate their E-Jets into YGLA. The city of Gladstone will boom in coming years and I think air travel will play a key role. I know of many people who fly from southern ports to Rockhampton then drive back to Gladstone to conduct their business, so the upgrade at YGLA might take some paxs away from Rocky.

[damian f]

Strategic's A320 VH-YQA operated the inaugral flight to Gladtone (VC520) this morning (18/4). Wish them all the best!

Damian

[damian f]

Strategic's VH-YQC was on the Brisbane-Gladstone-Brisbane run today... that would make all three A320's into Gladstone now!

Damian

[damian f]

What a week!

Wednesday - Virgin Australia announce Brisbane to Gladstone with ATR 72s.

Friday - Strategic withdraw from the Brisbane to Gladstone route.

More details HERE.

Cheers
Damian

[Dave Parer]

Strategic leave but Virgin ATR's are on their way. I thought the A320 would have been too big of an aircraft to operate on this route.

Virgin's ATR's like QLink's Dash-8's will be perfect for this sector. The air fare war will begin.

Here are the respective articles from the Gladstone Newspaper;

http://www.gladstoneobserver.com.au/sto ... gladstone/

http://www.gladstoneobserver.com.au/sto ... gladstone/

[damian f]

Probably reported in other forums, but VH-FVH operated the inaugural Virgin service on the Brisbane to Gladstone run - arriving as "Virgin 711 Sierra" - DJ1711.

Some pics and a report from a corresondent on the Blog - link - http://tinyurl.com/3j7ts5k

Cheers
Damian

[Jim W]

Probably reported in other forums, but VH-FVH operated the inaugural Virgin service on the Brisbane to Gladstone run - arriving as "Virgin 711 Sierra" - DJ1711.

Some pics and a report from a corresondent on the Blog - link - http://tinyurl.com/3j7ts5k

Cheers
Damian

Thanks Damian, I spoke with Shane at the airport - I am even in one of the photos published!

[Dave Parer]

See Qantas is to upgrade Gladstone flights early next year to Boeing 717's......

http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/st ... ge-qantas/