Launceston shortlisted for Qantas Academy

Published on 22 June 2018

Launceston Mayor Albert van Zetten says he is delighted at Launceston's shortlisting as a potential home for the new Qantas Group Pilot Academy.

The City of Launceston and the State Government have been supporting the Coordinator General's Office in its bid for Tasmania as the home of the venture.

More than 60 regional cities across Australia have been vying to secure the Academy, which is due to open in 2019 and which is designed to train up to 500 pilots a year.

This morning Qantas announced that Launceston had made a shortlist of nine cities:

 Launceston, Tasmania

 Alice Springs, Northern Territory

 Bendigo, Victoria

 Busselton, Western Australia

 Dubbo, New South Wales

 Mackay, Queensland

 Tamworth, New South Wales

 Toowoomba, Queensland

 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales

Those cities will now move to the next phase of the process.

Mayor van Zetten said Launceston could offer Academy attendees an enviable lifestyle standard, and access to first-rate airport infrastructure.

"I believe Launceston is a standout city on the shortlist, and that our offering is unique," Mayor van Zetten said.

"Launceston Airport is a very high standard regional airport. The City of Launceston has been a shareholder in that venture since 1998 and the airport's infrastructure would be a solid asset for a Qantas academy.

"Securing the Qantas Group Pilot Academy for Launceston would be a fantastic outcome for the region, but there's no doubt there remains stiff competition from other cities on the shortlist.

"Should a training facility of this calibre to be established in Launceston in the future, it would be incredibly exciting.

"The City of Launceston has been very pleased to work with the Coordinator General's Office and the State Government on the Tasmanian bid, and it's fantastic their work has helped Launceston to be shortlisted.

"A Qantas project team will now visit each of the nine cities on the shortlist to evaluate each location, and I look forward to their visit to Launceston."