26 Jun 2017 Townsville Bulletin, Townsville QLD Author: Victoria Nugent • Section: General News • Article type : News Item Classification : Regional • Audience : 18,061 • Page: 11 • Printed Size: 268.00cm² Market: QLD • Country: Australia • ASR: AUD 1,626 • Words: 345 • Item ID: 799213014
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Virgin’s backing has fans jetting in
Racegoers’ flights coup VICTORIA NUGENT victoria.nugent@news.com.au
SEVEN extra flights have been put on to accommodate an influx of Supercars fans travelling to the Townsville 400 next month. Virgin Australia, the official airline of Supercars, will run extra return services from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. It marks the most extra flights that have ever been put on for the Townsville 400, which includes three days of racing as well as performances from rockers Jimmy Barnes and James Reyne. Supercars chief executive James Warburton said the seven additional flights would run from Thursday, July 6, to Monday, July 10, between Townsville and major cities on Australia’s east coast. “We are thrilled Virgin Australia has made these additional flights available for the thousands of fans heading to the Watpac Townsville 400 from right across Australia,” Mr Warburton said. “For this reason Supercars and Virgin Australia have part-
ECONOMY BOOST: Extra flights will cater for race visitors.
nered to bring fans Supercars Travel, offering a single site where fans can access airfares, accommodation, race tickets and local tourist attractions in any destination a Virgin Australia Supercars event is held.” Group executive for Virgin Australia Airlines John Thomas said the airline was “delighted to transport the teams, drivers and thousands of Supercars fans around the country, and is particularly proud to support an event that brings such exhilaration and excitement to its fans”. Townsville Enterprise tourism and events director Bridget Woods said the extra flights would draw further spectators. “Given the significant con-
tribution that events provide the local economy and their ability to have direct and positive impacts on visitation, Townsville Enterprise considers events as one of the region’s greatest tourism assets,” she said. “There is no better time to visit Townsville: with average winter temperatures of 25C and over 300 days of sunshine each year, Supercars fans can certainly leave their winter woollies at home.” Mayor Jenny Hill said the extra flights were a great way to boost the event, which she hoped would be “the most successful to date”. The Townsville 400 will be held from July 7-9.