Devil hitches a ride on flying kangaroo

A FLYING devil on a mission to get more tourists into the state was revealed at Hobart airport yesterday.

Qantas reveals new 717 plane with Tasse themed artwork that will fly the new Tassie routes at Cambridge Hobart Airport picture of Qantas Domestic CEO Lyell Strambi right with premier Will Hodgman

A FLYING devil on a mission to get more tourists into the state was revealed at Hobart airport yesterday when a Qantas­Link Boeing 717 aircraft touched down emblazoned with the iconic Tasmanian marsupial.

The arrival of the refurbished aircraft, named The Tassie Devil, complete with distinctive footprint design, coincided with the launch of Boeing 717 services on the Melbourne to Hobart route, which starts today.

Qantas Domestic chief Lyell Strambi, who flew into Hobart yesterday to join Premier and Tourism Minister Will Hodgman in unveiling the plane, said the aircraft demonstrated the airline’s commitment to Tasmania.

“Qantas is strong supporter and investor in Australian tourism and this special aircraft will be flown around the country, promoting Tasmania to every city and town that it operates to,” Mr Strambi said.

“Our refurbished Boeing 717 jets have already been flying on the Sydney-Hobart route and the feedback from customers has been overwhelming. We’re really looking forward to introducing it on the Melbourne to Hobart route from tomorrow.”

Describing the boldly designed planes as an aerial billboard for the state, Mr Hodgman said Qantas’s decision to replace its 737 and Q400 planes with Boeing 717 jets would help Tasmania reach his stated target of 1.5 million tourists a year, which would create 8000 jobs.

But, fresh from securing ­almost 250 Tasmanian jobs at Qantas’s Hobart call centre, Mr Hodgman was coy about what sweeteners were offered to the airline to stay in the state.

“We are serious about getting on with the job of boosting our competitive strengths like the tourism industry, and partners like Qantas are going to play a pivotal role in that,” he said.

“We’ll make an announcement about the details of that agreement when we are able to and when Qantas is prepared for that to occur. Nothing has changed in the last 24 hours since I was asked that, but we will do it as soon as possible.

“But the deal is struck and the jobs are safe, that’s the most important thing.”

Originally published as Devil hitches a ride on flying kangaroo