Fly Pelican has enabled families to reunite for the first time in 'a while.'
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The first ever Fly Pelican flight, from Ballina to Dubbo, landed at Dubbo Regional Airport on Friday at 12:55 pm, carrying more 20 passengers, all of who boarded the plane from the Ballina Airport.
Several of those passengers were using the new initiative as an opportunity to visit family members and friends in Dubbo and surrounding areas.
Among those passengers was Ballina resident Kay Williams who was able to reunite with her older sister Theresa Yasserie.
"It was a good flight," Ms Williams said.
"But I'm just excited to see my sister.
"We haven't seen each other for quite the while."
Ms Yasserie is a well-known Dubbo resident who was awaiting her sisters arrival at the Dubbo Airport when Fly Pelican landed.
With nine hours in car between Ballina and Dubbo, as well as the many things happening in the world and in their individual lives, Ms Yasserie said the sisters probably would not have been able to have this reunion at this time if not for Flight Pelican.
"Living in Ballina, if not for the flight than she wouldn't have come," Ms Yasserie said.
Ms Williams agreed, adding the fact that it 'would have been a long drive'.
"We've also just had a lot of things happening," Ms Williams said.
The sisters said they are just looking forward to 'catching up', relaxing and have no exuberant plans in store for Ms Williams visit at the moment.
Former Dubbo resident Brenda Giddings was also among the first Fly Pelican Passengers with daughter Zoe Giddings and her two small grandchildren.
The pair travelled from Ballina to Dubbo to visit family.
"It was good actually," Mrs Giddings said.
"I lived in Dubbo before I moved to Ballina, and we've just come to visit family and see the grandkids.
"We had already planned on coming down, but we were initially going to drive.
"The when we heard about the flights we were like, yes.
"It was also the first time the two littlies have been on an aeroplane."
Mrs Giddings said the 'two little ones' loved the ride.
"They were well behaved," she said.
"One of them slept the whole way, the other didn't, he wanted to look out the window and all of that."
Fly Pelican is a partnership initiative between Dubbo Regional Council and Ballina Shire Council.
The initiative enables passengers from Dubbo and Ballina to fly to and from either location for $149 each way.
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Your story matters, your voice deserves to be heard and I would love to help you share it. I have five years of experience as a Journalist with Australian Community Media covering an array of topics, with a key focus on breaking news and crime and a passion for people. E: taylor.dodge@austcommunitymedia.com.au.
