PASSENGERS on the first flight from Dubbo to Brisbane could be part of a speed record attempt, according to Jetgo chief operating officer (COO) Arron Mulder.
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The COO was in Dubbo this week with a team of Jetgo executives and trainers, checking out the facilities at Dubbo airport and showing local airport personnel how to manage the 36-seater Brazil-made Embraer jet.
With a cruising speed of 850 kilometres per hour and a range of up 1600 nautical miles, Mr Mulder said the jet will open up a range of opportunities to Dubbo's residents, as well as the town itself.
"We're opening it up so people don't have to go to Sydney - they have more choice," Mr Mulder said.
"We think it's going to provide opportunities, not only for people from Dubbo and surrounding shires to visit Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast, there will be benefits for Dubbo, to get the tourism market and more agricultural investment coming in."
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) was yet to approve Jetgo's Brisbane-Dubbo route, but Mr Mulder said the company was confident.
"We've already added five ports in eight months - I'm sure another isn't a big hassle," he said, adding that he and his team were very impressed by what Dubbo's regional facility had on offer.
"It's very clean, tidy and spacious," he said.
The route has the public's approval, with ticket sales going strong, helped along by the $99 promotional fare on offer for advanced bookings for the first month of the service.
"Forward booking is picking up, which gives us some comfort," he said.
"Like anything it requires the support of the market to work. But if we can provide a service at the right price, who needs to go via Sydney?"
"As far as we're concerned, Dubbo will never get closer to Brisbane, so the only way to get there faster is in a modern technology jet."
