Qantas has announced that all regional routes from Adelaide will now be served with the larger Q400, including flights to Port Lincoln, Whyalla, Mount Gambier and Kangaroo Island. This has been made possible thanks to the acquisition of 14 additional Q400s.
On Monday (February 17, 2025), Qantas announced that QantasLink will upgauge all regional routes from Adelaide from the 50-seat Q300 to the larger 74-seat Q400 (now designated De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400) turboprop aircraft. The introduction of the Q400 on routes to Port Lincoln, Whyalla, Mount Gambier and Kangaroo Island has been made possible thanks to the carrier’s recent acquisition of 14 more of the type. Once the transition is complete, Qantas will have three Q400s based in South Australia. Currently, Qantas operates over 50 weekly returns between Adelaide and the regional cities.
In Monday’s announcement, QantasLink’s CEO, Rachel Yangoyan, said,
“These larger aircraft will bring more seats, a faster flight time and improved reliability for South Australia and reaffirms our commitment to the regions. This is the first time the 74-seat Q400 aircraft will be back to Adelaide in 10 years, and for the first time, to new destinations including Mount Gambier and Whyalla.
“Improving the overall travel experience is important but so is investing in the communities that we serve. The overhaul of our wine offering across our turboprop network to showcase six South Australian wines to over 3.5 million customers a year is great for local tourism and will grow our support for the local economy.”
Also commenting on the QantasLink aircraft upgrade, Adelaide Airport’s Managing Director, Brenton Cox, said,
“Regional flights are the lifeblood of our country towns and cities. The introduction of newer and larger aircraft on these routes by QantasLink is a significant win for our regional customers who rely on these services for work, attending appointments and catching up with friends and relatives, as well as benefiting our tourism sector.”
South Australian Tourism Minister, Zoe Bettison, added,
“This is an exciting development for South Australia’s regional connectivity and tourism sector. The introduction of faster and larger aircraft on our regional routes will not only improve travel times but also increase capacity, making it easier for visitors to explore our beautiful regions.
“We’re working closely with both airlines and Adelaide Airport to ensure South Australia remains at the forefront of aviation and tourism development. This aligns with our strategy to boost our visitor economy and showcase everything South Australia has to offer.”
QantasLink is also updating their beverage offering with the addition of eight new regional wines onboard from mid-March 2025, six of which come from South Australian wineries, including Stonehaven, Pioneer Road and Angove. Qantas’ operations in South Australia currently provide over 870 jobs, while Qantas Freight moves around 10 million kilograms of freight to/from South Australia.
Source: Qantas