IT is yet to start flying its Dubbo to Brisbane route but air operator JETGO is so impressed by the community response to the new service it has upped the number of flights in its planned weekly schedule.
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Managing director Paul Bredereck flew to Dubbo on Wednesday morning to announce that from August 16, JETGO would add a Sunday return flight to that schedule, which until now was set to consist of return flights on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
On board the flight were Dubbo mayor Mathew Dickerson and deputy mayor Ben Shields.
Cr Dickerson said he took the opportunity to get in Mr Bredereck's ear about the possibility of JETGO increasing the frequency of its flights, and also perhaps adding Melbourne or other centres to its list of destination ports.
Wednesday's flight coincided with JETGO receiving official regulatory approval from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to operate the route from July 20.
Cr Shields said the Dubbo to Brisbane service had come about as a result of the city's enthusiasm and demand, which he hoped would continue.
"This is a matter of use it or lose it, Dubbo, and so far you're passing the test," he said.
Cr Shields described his flight as "so quiet, so smooth and so fast, and the legroom was unreal".
Mr Bredereck later confirmed the flight had taken a speedy one hour and nine minutes.
He also confirmed JETGO would have "a bit of fun" with its inaugural flight on July 20 as it aimed to set a speed record.
"Our CEO Jason Ryder will fly it - no one's previously applied for a speed record on this commercial route, it'll be safe to say we'll probably pick up that record," Mr Bredereck said.
Mr Ryder said that attempt would see the aircraft travel at speeds of some 900km/h to try to cover the distance in around 55 minutes to an hour.
Meanwhile Mr Bredereck said JETGO had been "absolutely blown away" by ticket sales.
"Sure we've got a lot of cheap $99 tickets in there but the initial sales have been great, even as the tickets progress up into the higher fares, the ongoing sales have been absolutely outstanding," he said.
"Our ambition is to get the frequency up to six days a week, but we still have a little way to go."
On whether JETGO had plans to fly a Dubbo to Melbourne direct service, Mr Bredereck said: "We're looking at it, but at this stage we haven't made the business case for it. But the Mayor has been very persuasive and we are looking at it."
He did not rule out JETGO establishing code-share arrangements with international airlines down the track.
Early figures suggested 60 per cent of the bookings on the new service originated from Dubbo and 40 per cent from Brisbane, Mr Bredereck said, with most flights in the first few weeks having 30-plus passengers.
"We expect there will be a significant market for people going to Brisbane for medical treatment and to board cruise ships," he said.