From September 2019, FlyPelican and Air Link will operate 26 new flights each week. The flights will link Bourke, Cobar, Walgett and Lightning Ridge to Dubbo and Cobar to Sydney.
FlyPelican will offer round trips between:
- Cobar and Dubbo on Monday and Thursday
- Cobar and Sydney on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.
Air Link will offer round trips between:
- Dubbo and Bourke on Monday, Wednesday and Friday
- Dubbo and Walgett on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
- Walgett and Lightning Ridge on Tuesday and Thursday.
Each flight has been scheduled to allow enough time for passengers to transfer to connecting flights from Dubbo to Sydney.
The NSW Government will provide $8 million to ensure routes remain sustainable and affordable for locals, businesses and tourists. This includes discounted fares for western NSW residents.
Minister for Western NSW Adam Marshall said the air services would make a huge difference to the lives of locals.
“Right now, anyone wanting to get to Sydney are driving four hours from Cobar to Dubbo just to get on a one-hour flight. From next month, they’ll be able to hop onto a direct flight to Sydney, which will make a massive difference to people’s lives,” Mr Marshall said.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro said the air services will carry over 14,000 seats a year to the Far West.
“This means tourists can roam the opal fields in Lightning Ridge, have lunch at the Port of Bourke Hotel on the Darling River or visit the historic mining town of Cobar, in a matter of hours,” Mr Barilaro said.
Details on the new flights are available on the FlyPelican and Air Link websites.
