There is a buzz in the air, with Brindabella Airlines about to start a new direct service from Armidale to Brisbane, which commences on August 15, 2011. The Armidale Independent spoke to CEO Jeff Boyd about the new service and how the airline got started.
Brindabella Airlines is privately owned and operated and has a growing reputation in the region. They are affiliated with Qantas and are part of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program, which means that passengers can earn and redeem Frequent Flyer points on all flights.
Brindabella operates from three key bases: Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane and they have been steadily expanding into regional NSW. Destinations include Cobar, Albury, Newcastle, Moree, Tamworth and Coffs Harbour. The Tamworth to Brisbane service started in May 2009 and is proving to be a real success, having already expanded to up to three services per day.
Jeff Boyd and his wife, Lara Corry-Boyd, launched Brindabella Airlines from their home base in Canberra in 1994. They started with a two engined, eight-seat Navajo aircraft known as Wallie (VH-WAL) which is still the pride of the fleet. Since then, the airline has grown and now includes a fleet of 18-seat and 30-seat aircraft as well as a charter operation and an associated maintenance facility.
The Boyds recognise the value an air service has for a community and, given the inevitable challenges of running a viable service, Brindabella aims to partner with local communities to ensure they are as successful as possible. As CEO Jeff Boyd explained, running a regional route can be challenging but there are many rewards and one of them is the positive effect they can have on the community.
“There are no guarantees in regional aviation but, when an airline and a community see mutual benefit in having a service and where the passenger numbers can make it viable, a joint effort from the community and the airline is best,” Jeff Boyd said.
“Brindabella can contribute to the communities it flies to by providing an essential travel link which is good for business and the community, and we can also have a direct effect in other ways by sponsoring local events and employing local people,” Jeff Boyd said.
Mr Boyd said Brindabella also prides itself on its personal, professional and friendly services. “Our crews fly the routes regularly and get to know the passengers, particularly the regular passengers. We can provide the sort of personal service you just don’t get with big airlines anymore,” he said.
The business community and the Council have responded enthusiastically to the new service which will commence with daily flights on weekdays. It is expected that, as passenger numbers grow, the service will expand to twice daily and to weekends.
