The push is on to entice an airline to connect Wagga to Canberra with Singapore Airlines set to bring international flights to the Riverina’s doorstep.
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International flights will operate from Canberra to Singapore and Wellington four times a week from September, bringing New Zealand and Asia closer than ever to the Riverina.
The Advertiser is today launching its A Capital Idea campaign to lobby for the last missing link to be filled in – domestic air services between Wagga and Canberra airports.
Member for Riverina Michael McCormack, who is lending his support to the campaign, said the idea of an air service from the nation’s capital to Wagga had already been floated with ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr.
“I think anything we can do to drive investment and social and economic opportunities for the Riverina is a great thing,” Mr McCormack said.
“This is going to open up some real, meaningful and lasting opportunities for our region.”
Making the vision of domestic flights between Wagga and Canberra a reality would be down to whether QantasLink and Regional Express – the two airlines currently operating out of the city’s airport – find the route to be commercially viable.
Mr McCormack, who is the Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, said he would be discussing the proposal and its opportunities with both QantasLink and Rex in coming months.
Wagga mayor Rod Kendall, another backer of the campaign, said any air link between the city and Canberra would present opportunities for the wider region.
“There’s no reason why we wouldn’t encourage those discussions with Rex whether they could make a viable route out of Wagga-Canberra on the back of those international flights,” he said.
The idea was backed earlier this week by both Wagga Business Chamber president Tim Rose and Griffith-based Casella Wines managing director John Casella.