Ansett's decision to start daily non-stop Perth-Darwin flights welcomed

2/6/96 Tourism Minister Norman Moore has welcomed the decision by Ansett Australia to start daily non-stop flights between Perth and Darwin.

2/6/96

Tourism Minister Norman Moore has welcomed the decision by Ansett Australia to start daily non-stop flights between Perth and Darwin.

Mr Moore said the new service, combined with the introduction of Boeing 737 intrastate services, would take Western Australia into a new aviation era.

Ansett's 114-seat Boeing 737 will be the largest aircraft to fly on WA intrastate routes. A flight between Perth-Kalgoorlie/Boulder will be used to launch the aircraft today. The Boeing will then be used for the airline's 11 weekly return services between Perth and Kalgoorlie/Boulder.

"The new flights and bigger aircraft are further evidence of the growth Western Australia is seeing in both the tourism and resource industries," Mr Moore said.

"This major investment by Ansett in Western Australia will have wide-ranging benefits for the company, other businesses and the community allowing people to move around the State quicker and in extra comfort.

"Kalgoorlie/Boulder is now internationally recognised as a key centre in the world gold industry which is being strongly supported by the growth in the base metals industry. It is therefore very timely that Ansett has decided to provide this service," said Mr Moore.

State Ansett Manager Bill Jauncey said the airline had decided to target Western Australia and the Northern Territory with its new resources because of its strong market positions there and because of the strong growth Ansett was experiencing on these routes.

Mr Jauncey said Ansett would aim to introduce Boeing 737 services to its other major ports in Western Australia as further aircraft became available in the fleet restructure.

The new Perth-Darwin non-stop services will cut the flying time down to 3.5 hours between the two cities . When Perth-Darwin services first began in 1934 the fortnightly trip took four days with 40 landings in a DH84 carrying eight passengers.

Media contact: Anabel Gomez 321 1444