Guidelines for official travel and air travel bookings are detailed in Circular 99-60. Official travel is defined as any travel by a public official or any other person where a public sector organisation or service responsible to a Minister uses public monies to pay for the travel.

The NSW Government contract for the provision of Air Travel and Related Services is held by Qantas Airways Limited (Qantas) for the period 1 July 1999 to 31 March 2004. The Department of Commerce (formerly The Department Public Works and Services), on behalf of the State Contracts Control Board, issued public tenders and awarded the contract in 1999. Department of Commerce is responsible for providing ongoing contract management and oversight of the arrangement.

Qantas provides its travel agency-type services through the contract by three alternative methods, travel consultants of Qantas Business Travel (QBT) based in Sydney, 17 appointed travel agents in regional NSW, and the internet using the Q2B on-line system.

The main purpose of the contract is to obtain air travel bookings, regardless of the carrier, based on each customer's particular travel needs. Such criteria known as 'Best Fare of the Day' includes cost, seat availability, timing, preferred airline, and the acceptability of any fare conditions or other restrictions associated with lower cost fares (e.g. changes in timing). Due to this it may not always be the lowest fare available on the day. It is the best fare available that meets the traveller's needs.

It is critically important that public funded air travel is determined fairly in choosing the best fare regardless of the carrier.

The Government has a significant commitment to regional NSW and assisted Ansett Airlines subsidiaries in NSW to maintain where possible the provision of regional air services. The services of these smaller airlines, need to be supported within the terms of the contract wherever possible.

Consequently, Government customers should ensure that they are provided with enough information by the travel consultants (QBT or the appointed regional agents) or Q2B internet system to demonstrate that air travel options have been adequately explored and costed. Particularly, consideration should be given to the cost benefits of non refundable compared to refundable fares.

All bookings must be made through the contract. Also, attached is a list of airlines servicing NSW destinations which shows routes serviced by single or multiple carriers for your information.

C Gellatly
Director General

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Route Sydney to  Licensed Operator
Albury Qantas, Regional Express (Rex)
Armidale Qantas
Ballina Qantas, Rex
Bathurst Rex
Bourke Air Link
Broken Hill Rex
Cobar Air Link
Coffs Harbour Qantas, Virgin Blue
Canberra Qantas, Rex, Virgin Blue
Cooma Horizon
Coonamble Air Link
Dubbo Qantas, Rex, Air Link
Grafton Qantas
Griffith Rex
Lightning Ridge Air Link
Lismore Rex
Lord Howe Island Qantas
Merimbula Rex
Moree Qantas
Moruya Rex
Mudgee Air Link
Narrabri Qantas
Narrandera Rex
Newcastle (Belmont) Aeropelican
Newcastle (Williamtown) Qantas, Horizon
Orange Rex
Parkes Rex
Port Macquarie Qantas
Tamworth Qantas
Taree Horizon
Wagga Wagga Qantas, Rex
Walgett Air Link