ATW's 2012 Regional Airline of the Year - QantasLink

Great success stories in the airline industry are rare, even in good times. ATW’s 2012 Regional Airline of the Year is one of those and much more. The region in this case is wide and daunting, spanning the length and breadth of Australia and its hostile interior known with fondness to Aussies as the Outback. And yet, QantasLink has successfully conquered that territory and its extreme landscapes and temperatures to provide excellent service to millions of people living in or seeking to reach some of Australia’s most remote towns and cities.

QantasLink traces its heritage back to 1949 with one aircraft operating from Tamworth in New South Wales that served local farming communities in New South Wales and Queensland. Today, it operates a fleet of almost 60 Bombardier Dash 8s and Boeing 717s that supports a network of 56 metropolitan and country destinations and provides seamless connections to Qantas’ domestic and international services.

As well as operating in Australia’s Outback, QantasLink’s region includes the snowfields of the Australian Alps, the wilds of Tasmania’s wilderness, the tropical tourist resorts of Queensland, and the dusty mine sites in Western Australia, where summer temperatures regularly nudge 45 Centigrade (115 Fahrenheit).

As the destinations QantasLink operates to throughout Australia are extremely widespread and diverse, unique resourcing and infrastructure requirements are needed, which requires the business to be flexible in its operations across ground handling, engineering, security and customer service. QantasLink recently introduced a “Walk in My Shoes” program which encourages the airline’s senior management team to spend time in a diverse range of operational areas such as baggage handling, check-in and load control. Employees also have the opportunity to share lunch with QantasLink’s executive manager Narendra Kumar to discuss key announcements and ask about the QantasLink business.

Hallmarks of QantasLink’s operations include a perfect safety record, sterling financial performance and excellent customer service.

QantasLink is more than a regional airline—it is a lifeline to millions of Australians and visitors who live in or need to reach some of the most remote places in the world.

In the last financial year, QantasLink’s passenger numbers were up more than 12%; ASKS were up nearly 8% and RPKs up by almost 10%.

At the same time, the fleet grew by 19% to 59 aircraft and the carrier now operates 2,000 flights a week.

The airline has embraced new technology, rolling out its Next Gen check-in system at 16 airports while opening new lounges at many key destinations.

In 2010 it acquired Perth-based Network Aviation to tap into the Fly-In/Fly-Out market that underpins Australia’s vast resource industry. QantasLink has purchased 10 Fokker 100 jets to build on that business and add to Network’s fleet of two Fokkers and seven Brasilias.

QantasLink’s superb record and dedication to operational excellence and customer service, combined with its history of delivering superior financial results, make it a highly deserving recipient of ATW’s Regional Airline of the Year award.

View Award Video Presentation Here.