King Island will get its first-ever direct flights to Launceston from next month, in a move the airline says will reshape how residents, businesses and producers connect with mainland Tasmania.
Sharp Airlines will launch the non-stop service on May 1, operating every Tuesday and Thursday.
The new route cuts travel time from 95 minutes to 55 minutes, ending years of King Island travellers having to go via Burnie.
Sharp says the service will give residents two extra days a week of fast access to Launceston’s hospitals, services, schools and retail.
The airline also says it will open the door to day-trip business travel for the first time, with professionals able to fly in for a morning meeting and return the same afternoon.
“These new direct flights are a genuine step forward for our King Island services,” Sharp Airlines chief executive Alistair Dorward said.
“We’ve listened to the needs of the community and recognised the importance of faster, more efficient connections between King Island and Launceston.”
Sharp says the island’s producers are among the biggest winners, alongside tourism operators.
The airline says King Island’s dairy, beef, seafood and abalone industries will benefit, with full freight capacity going directly to the island on those days instead of being shared with the Burnie leg.
A 55-minute direct flight also makes King Island “a genuine short-break destination from Launceston”, the airline said.
It also describes Launceston as “a new visitor market”, noting the city has never had a direct air link to the island.
“This new route improves the travel experience for residents and visitors alike, while also strengthening access for business, tourism and freight,”Dorward said.
Existing flights via Burnie will continue on other days of the week.
