To prosper the travel industry on kangaroo island (Kangaroo Island), QantasLink will open direct flights to Adelaide and Melbourne to kangaroo island from December this year.
Summer is the peak season for kangaroo island, and this summer Qantas offers five direct flights a week to kangaroo island from Adelaide to three flights a week after Easter.
Qantas also offers two flights a week from Melbourne to kangaroo island, but only during the season from December 17 to January 28.
Under a travel marketing arrangement between Qantas and SA Tourism Commissio, South Australia's goverment will support new flights to Qantas.
South Australia Governor Jay Weatherill said that for many Chinese tourists, kangaroo island is one of Australia's most well-known and identified tourist attractions. Qantas opened flights to Adelaide and Melbourne through kangaroo island, which is very important for the development of South Australia's tourism industry. Very good, whether for kangaroo island, or for subsequent attempts to unfold.
According to the plan, the A $18 million Kingscote Airport upgrade and alteration project will be completed in November this year.
Adelaide, Melbourne direct to kangaroo island flights, Qantas will arrange the Dash 8 Q300 (50 seats), Q400 (74 seats) to carry out the mission to 20000 visitors a year.
While Qantas suspended flights to kangaroo island 12 years ago, John Gissling, Qantas's chief executive, is confident that direct flights will not be stopped again.
South Australia's goverment said the island received a total of 138000 overnight visitors in 2016, of whom almost half came from South Australia, 22 percent from interstate and 29 percent from overseas.
South Australia's tourism minister, Leon Bignell, said the opening of Qantas's direct flight to Adelaide, Melbourne, to kangaroo island was not intended to "cut someone else's pie."
"the pie is getting bigger and bigger. We are doing this to ensure that more visitors from all over the world appreciate the beauty of kangaroo island. "