DIRECT flights between Cairns and Bali are on the radar of international carrier Strategic Airlines

We'll go to Bali too - maybe

Nick Dalton

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

© The Cairns Post



DIRECT flights between Cairns and Bali are on the radar of international carrier Strategic Airlines. Would you like to fly to Bali direct?

Airline head of commercial Damien Vasta said the flights could happen as early as next year.

But, he said, it would depend upon demand and the response from Cairns residents to the airline’s just announced flights to Denpasar from Townsville.

"It is certainly not off the radar," Mr Vasta said.

Last week, Strategic announced it would start twice weekly flights to Bali from Townsville in December.

Mr Vasta revealed it was "a toss up" between Townsville and Cairns for the start of the December services to the popular leisure destination.

But he said one of the factors in Townsville’s favour was that it had no overseas services, despite all the facilities.

Mr Vasta said he had held talks with Cairns airport and would continue to do so.

Cairns Airport chief executive officer Stephen Gregg said he had held discussions.

Mr Vasta said they would closely monitor the demand from Cairns and bookings by travel agents.

He said if there were enough people travelling from Cairns to Townsville to catch the Bali flights then there was a possibility a service could operate from the Far North direct to Denpasar.

Mr Vasta said it would have to be financially viable and it was something that could be considered in 2011.

"It wouldn’t be until the new year and it would need to stack up," he said.

Mr Vasta said the Cairns-Bali flight could come via Townsville.

He said the airline would expand its services and fleet but would not add new aircraft for the sake of it.

The airline has three Airbus A320s and one A330.

The airline will fly to Bali on Friday and Sunday with an A320 featuring 12 business class seats and 144 economy class seats.

To coincide with the new international service, the airline is also launching twice-weekly direct flights between Brisbane and Townsville from December 3.

The airline will offer an introductory one-way Townsville to Bali fare of $199.

Mr Vasta said the Townsville service was to fulfil a growing need for local and regional residents, tourists, and sectors such as mining.