Qantas’s new 17-hour flights to Perth create selling opportunities, says Heather Colbourn, senior sales manager, AAT Kings
Ever since Qantas launched the ‘Kangaroo Route’ between the UK and Australia 70 years ago, the country’s golden beaches, glorious sunshine and laid-back lifestyle have epitomised the holiday dream for many British sun-seekers.
Today, it’s almost impossible to imagine that a four-night journey, with nine stopovers and more than 55 hours of flying time, was once considered a momentous step in aviation! Indeed, there are even Britons who still sigh at the thought of a 24-hour flight from the UK.
So the launch of Qantas’s non‑stop flights from London to Perth this month creates an opportunity for agents to sell to a new pool of clients who may previously have felt Australia was too far away to be a holiday destination.
Reaching Western Australia (WA) in just 17 hours firmly establishes Perth on the world map, and positions the city as an exciting new gateway to Australia. It also creates a huge opportunity for visitors to explore WA in more depth than ever before, and to see the very best of what Australia has to offer.
Expansive state
The state is an expansive and remote land of contrasting beauty and ruggedness. From award-winning wine regions and breathtaking national parks to fascinating indigenous culture, WA has a lot more to offer visitors than just beaches and sunshine.
Due to its vast size, WA lends itself well to a guided-holiday style. The wide and expansive land can be potentially daunting for visitors to navigate, so agents may find that it makes sense to draw on the expertise of an operator that specialises in the area and can advise on the highlights.
At AAT Kings we offer a range of touring options to suit any style of traveller, with many of these starting in Perth. We have day trips to places such as the Pinnacles Desert and Margaret River wine region, short breaks to the home of the quokka, Rottnest Island, and longer guided holidays which allow travellers to fully immerse themselves in the destination.
Stopover option
Traditionally, destinations along the East Coast, such as Cairns, Sydney and the Great Ocean Road, have been the Australian hotspots frequented by British travellers. Travellers’ desire to visit these destinations isn’t likely to change any time soon.
However, the new direct flight route to Perth adds another stopover option. Instead of breaking up the journey with a shopping trip in Hong Kong or a hotel stay in Dubai, agents can package holidays to Australia with a mini break in WA before heading across to the East Coast for a more immersive destination-based experience.
Two-week trips
The new route also makes a two-week holiday to Australia a much more viable option. It gives an opportunity to sell to clients who might never before have considered a trip to the South Pacific, simply because they didn’t think they had the time.
Now, living the coveted Australian way of life can be a reality for more Brits than ever before. Well, for a few weeks at least.