A Queensland woman who finds it hard to get around busy Sydney Airport is thrilled that she can catch a direct flight from Brisbane to Dubbo to see her 84-year-old mother.
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Janelle Hasler, who has a brain injury from a workplace incident, got lost trying to catch a flight from Sydney to Dubbo.
But on Tuesday morning she was beaming from ear to ear as Fly Corporate’s first aircraft into Dubbo from Brisbane was being prepared for its return to the Queensland capital.
Mrs Hasler, of Wondai, was among passengers pleased to be able to book Fly Corporate flights between Brisbane and Dubbo after the collapse of JetGo, which previously serviced the route.
They included Dubbo and district resident Jan Farrar who is urging others to support Fly Corporate.
“I hope people get behind and support this as it’s a service that is good for people and good for the city,” she said.
Mrs Farrar was accepting a gift from Dubbo Regional Council for being on the inaugural flight from Brisbane as Mrs Hasler waited to board Fly Corporate’s Saab 340B Plus.
Mrs Hasler said the one-hour and 40-minute direct flight from Dubbo to Brisbane was faster, cheaper and easier than going home via Sydney Airport.
“I will be able to be in Dubbo more often to see my 84-year-old mother,” she said.
Mrs Farrar had been due to return to Dubbo from Brisbane on Monday but opted to wait a day to be on Fly Corporate’s flight on Tuesday.
“I thought this was so exciting that I decided not to travel the long way on two flights,” she said.
Her earlier trip to Brisbane to see friends had included a “three-hour layover” at Sydney Airport.
“Instead of a five-hour trip I can now go for a short trip with no need to change planes,” she said.
“I have some excellent friends in Brisbane and beyond and this is a way that I can keep in touch conveniently.”
Brisbane’s Jason Butler caught Tuesday’s Fly Corporate flight to Dubbo, a stop-off on his way to Cobar.
The employee of a gas company was glad to avoid having to “sit in Sydney for an hour or so waiting for a connecting flight”.
“I was going to come out this week no matter what, so it was nice timing that they ran their first flight,” Mr Butler said.
Dubbo Regional Council mayor Ben Shields reported of the professionalism of the Fly Corporate crew that delivered 19 paying customers to Dubbo on Tuesday including himself and two other council figures.
The gift bag presented to passengers included a visitor guide, stamped postcard and drink bottle.
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