Please note: Images in this article were taken before current COVID-19 safety measures were in place.
Bendigo is set to soar to new heights with direct flights between Sydney and Bendigo announced last week by QantasLink.
The announcement comes after a Victorian Government funded redevelopment of Bendigo airport which extended and widened the runway.
The first flight will arrive from Sydney on 31 March 2019 – the first commercial flight for Bendigo Airport in thirty years.
The new flights will offer businesses in central and northern Victorian a more convenient route to Sydney. Compared with commuting to Melbourne’s Tullamarine airport, the direct flight will save four hours of driving time.
The City of Greater Bendigo has welcomed the QantasLink announcement and will work with the airline and Visit Victoria to develop a marketing campaign to entice extra travellers to the region.
Bendigo’s economy is expected to flourish from the influx of new visitors the new service will deliver. An anticipated $2.8 million will be gained in the first year of operation.
The new flight route will also create 25 new local jobs.
The landmark deal was thanks to a partnership between Regional Development Victoria and the City of Greater Bendigo.
The return service will operate six days a week and attract up to 14,560 in-bound visitors to Bendigo per year, with the potential to grow if additional flights are introduced.