Qantas: Direct flights from Adelaide to Cairns and Hobart

Adelaidians in South Australia can maximise their COVID-19 free status by now flying directly to Cairns in Queensland, or down south to Hobart in Tasmania on QantasLink flights as of last weekend.

You will be flying on new Embraer E190 aircraft with 94 seats actually owned by Alliance Airlines, but leased to QantasLink. Eventually, 5 of these planes will be based in Adelaide at its newly created aircraft base employing up to 200 people.

There will be 7 weekly return services south to Hobart, and 4 weekly services north to Cairns.

QantasLink CEO John Gissing paints a rosy picture of benefits at both ends of the scheduled routes:

‘Cairns, a gateway to the world-famous Great Barrier Reef, and Hobart with its world-class cultural and dining experiences have both been very popular with travellers taking the opportunity to holiday here at home over the past year.

These new flights will also help bring more visitors to Adelaide which will be great for the economy with flow on benefits for local businesses.’QantasLink CEO John Gissing

2PAXfly Takeout

This is another timely reminder to wear your seatbelt when seated. Holding you close to your seat will protect you from the sort of injuries sustained on this flight, when unsecured passengers flew to the ceiling of the aircraft, and then came crashing down once the ‘drop’ ceased.

The hope will be that this is an anomaly – a ‘freak accident’ in casual parlance. If it is a systemic error either mechanical or electronic, then this is a larger concern for the airlines that fly Boeing Dreamliner 787 aircraft. Let’s hope it isn’t. If it is, it will pile on the woes to Boeing’s existing stack.

These new direct flight options will be a boon for residents of Cairns, Adelaide and Hobart, allowing them to flit around to states with no COVID-19 cases while avoiding the plague-ridden states of NSW and Victoria. Damn them!

Oh, and these routes are brought to you with the financial support of the Adelaide Airport and the South Australian Government. Qantas again – just like with its headquarters, socialises costs, while privatising profits.