Palaszczuk Government out of the blocks to keep the ‘Queensland’ in QANTAS

The Palaszczuk Government is acting to keep the Queensland in Qantas, as the company details its next stages for selecting suitable regions to house its new multi-million-dollar pilot training facility.

Minister for State Development Cameron Dick said that officials from his department were working hard to press the case for Queensland, following preliminary negotiations that commenced following Qantas’ announcement in February this year.

The company will initially invest up to $20 million to establish a new pilot academy capable of training up to 500 pilots a year to help meet the increasing need for skilled aviators.

The Qantas Group Pilot Academy is expected to open its doors in 2019, and the company has stated it is likely to be established near an existing airfield in regional Australia to provide easy access to uncongested airspace.

“We want this facility in regional Queensland and, just like we won LAND400, we are prepared to work hard for it,” Mr Dick said.

“We are now preparing our response to Qantas’ formal request for information.

“Queensland’s airports are well positioned to meet the required criteria to successfully run these pilot academies.

“Qantas have advised they require asphalt runway length of 1300m and fuel tanker refuelling stations with adequate lighting for night time operations.

“Qantas has indicated that the desired airport will need to allow for at least 300 days a year where conditions are suited to flying, which the Sunshine State has in spades.”

Qantas has already chosen to base half of its Boeing 787-900 Dreamliner fleet in Brisbane, supporting 470 jobs, under a deal secured by the Palaszczuk Government and announced last year.

November 2017 marked 97 years since Qantas was founded in Winton, and 95 years since the airline flew its first schedule passenger service from Longreach to Cloncurry.

“We want Queensland to continue putting the ‘Q’ in Qantas’,” Mr Dick said.

Mr Dick said Qantas will be evaluating business cases up to June 8, where their experts will announce a shortlist before making a final decision.

Currently, Qantas and Qantas Group operate from more than 20 airports across the state, from the Gold Coast in the south, out west to its birthplace in Longreach, and to the far north in Weipa.

ENDS

Media contact: Anika Hume 0447 320 039