VIRGIN Australia has emerged as a surprise contender to fill the vacant Narrabri to Sydney air service.
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The airline’s chief executive officer, John Borghetti, says a decision will be made in the coming weeks.
Virgin Australia is the country’s second-largest carrier behind Qantas and flies to about 30 cities.
But its regional arm – Virgin Australia Regional Airlines – conducts charter flights in and out of Narrabri. The Narrabri Business Chamber wrote to Virgin recently spelling out the need for regular and reliable flights.
The community has been without commercial flights since the collapse of both Brindabella Airlines and Vincent Aviation.
Mr Borghetti told the chamber’s president, Russell Stewart, he was aware of Narrabri’s plight.
He said some of the company’s senior executives had met with Barwon MP Kevin Humphries to discuss the matter.
“Following on from that meeting, my commercial team is undertaking further analysis and holding discussions with the key mining companies and other stakeholders to secure a better understanding of the opportunity,” he said.
“I anticipate we will be in a position to make a decision on the potential to include Narrabri in our network over the coming weeks.”