Possible regional routes from Canberra

[Jarden S]

Another route that got cut was Qantas 737 CBR to DRW. Maybe not enough traffic for the 737 then so a 717/F100 might be a better fit, if it got relaunched same for HBA.

[Ryan K]

It would be great to see a QF 717 from HBA-CBR each morning, returning later that evening. VA used to do this with the E170/190.

[Jacob L]

Also the VA E170 that used to do CBR-TSV direct.

Would be a good idea for CBR-HBA on the 717, also CBR-OOL on the 717 for competition against VA with their E190/738. Problem is that QF is already having trouble with scheduling with the 717 due YQU still being u/s.
If more all Y jets are bought over to the east coast and have the J & Y class configs put in, e.g., NXI, J & R - Then more options may open. Who knows?

[Rowan McKeever]

The B717 is way too much aircraft for CBR-HBA... since VA couldn't consistently fill an E170 on that route. A Q400 is about the most that route could hope for.

As for CBR-DRW, firstly I object strongly to either city being referred to as 'regional', and also the B717 doesn't work here (or HBA-DRW) either as it doesn't have the range. The only way CBR-DRW is coming back is with an Airnorth E170. And I very much doubt you'll ever see a nonstop HBA-DRW.

[Kain C]

The 717 would work for QF on HBA-CBR because:

1) While VA used an E70 initially, they moved the E90 onto this route even when there were E70s remaining in the fleet.

2) As a high yield route it wouldn't need a load factor averaging 80 per cent to make money. The 12J layout of the 717 would be well used.

3) QF would command more passengers on this service than VA given QF has a lounge in HBA and VA doesn't, together with QF having the lions' share of the government travel market.

The Q400 would not work for QF on HBA-CBR because:

1) It was tried on HBA-MEL and was removed

2) It was tried on CBR-ADL and was removed

A whole day's flying for this HBA based 717 could be made for example by:

1) HBA-CBR-OOL-CBR-ADL-CBR-HBA

2) HBA-CBR-ADL-HBA-ADL-CBR-HBA

[MarkR]

I think the lack of a lounge for VA in Hobart is indicative of the lack of business travel, which is why I doubt the J seats in a 717 would be of much use. Tassie attracts mostly VFR traffic, total business visitors is around 700 a day for the entire state!