Link Airways: A Practical Guide to the Regional Carrier (Formerly Fly Corporate)

History and positioning

Born as Fly Corporate and renamed Link Airways in 2022, this Australian regional carrier links about fifteen smaller cities in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory. It is designed for those who need to travel between regional centers without going through the main hubs of the big cities, a segment that the big carriers tend not to serve directly because demand does not justify large aircraft. The 2022 rebranding also came with a partial refresh of the livery and the airline's commercial image, while leaving the underlying operating structure unchanged.

The fleet

The fleet consists of 34-seat Saab 340B Plus aircraft and 19-seat Fairchild Metro 23s, aircraft designed for routes with limited demand. They do not compete with the jets of the big carriers: their role is to guarantee regular links where demand would not justify larger aircraft, a principle common to many Australian regional carriers operating in a market that is geographically very vast but demographically concentrated on the coasts. The combination of Saab 340s and Metro 23s allows the airline to match the capacity offered to the specific demand of each regional route, from the busiest to the most marginal.

Routes and network

The operating bases are in Brisbane, Canberra and Melbourne (Essendon), from which services run to Tamworth, Dubbo, Armidale, Narrabri, Coffs Harbour, Orange, Wollongong (Shellharbour) and Hobart, among others, routes often used by professionals and commuters more than by tourists. The routes to Canberra remain particularly relevant for civil servants and professionals who regularly travel to Australia's federal capital.

Fares and baggage

Fares tend to be higher per passenger-kilometer than with the larger carriers, a direct reflection of the operating costs of small aircraft on low-traffic routes, where the fixed costs per flight are spread over a much smaller number of passengers.

On board and service

On board the Saab 340s and Metro 23s service is limited to drinks on generally short flights, without the pretensions of comfort of a larger airliner; there is no loyalty program of its own comparable to those of the big Australian carriers.

What passengers say

Those who use it for work on routes such as Dubbo-Sydney or Tamworth-Brisbane report generally punctual schedules and a quick boarding process, typical of low-traffic regional airports where queues and security checks take much less time than at the big airports. The available reviews come mostly from regular business travelers, a user base that is smaller but steadier than that of the big tourist carriers.

• Generally punctual schedules and quick boarding at regional airports.
• Direct links between regional centers that are otherwise poorly served.
• Quick airport procedures at the smaller airports compared with the big hubs.
• Useful links for commuters and professionals who work outside the big urban centers.

• Limited capacity in peak periods, with seats selling out early.
• Fares higher than what the same trip would cost on a larger scheduled jet.
• No routes to the major coastal tourist destinations such as the Gold Coast.

Link Airways is useful for those who work or live in regional centers of New South Wales or inland Queensland and need a direct link without going through Sydney or Brisbane. It is not the right choice for those looking for the lowest possible fare on a route also covered by a larger carrier. Book somewhat in advance on the most requested routes: with aircraft of 19-34 seats, flights fill up quickly in periods of high demand.