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BITRE | Report 115Virgin Blue started serving Sydney–Coffs Harbour in 2002. However, out-competedby Virgin Blue, Regional Express ceased services on Sydney–Coffs Harbour routein 2004. In the same year, Virgin Blue started services on Sydney–Ballina route. In2004, Regional Express also added air services between Sydney and Armidale, Coomaand West Wyalong. Overall, Regional Express provided air services on 20 regionalair routes and carried 35 per cent of all intrastate revenue passengers in New SouthWales in 2005.Eastern Australia Airlines has been serving regional New South Wales for the past 22years. In 2005, it served 29 regional air routes and carried 41 per cent of all intrastaterevenue passengers in New South Wales. Air Link started to serve regional air routesin New South Wales from 1991. It served 12 regional air routes in 2005.Regional routes where intrastate air services discontinued between 2004 and 2005were Sydney to Grafton and Kempsey, Lismore–Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour–Grafton, Kempsey–Taree, Griffith–Orange, Dubbo–Orange, Coonamble–LightningRidge, Coffs Harbour–Lismore, Williamtown–Ballina, Narrandera–Wagga Wagga,Armidale–Harbour, Armidale–Moree, Moree–Williamtown, Ballina–Tamworth,Gunnedah–Taree, and Grafton–Ballina.Major regional air routes within New South Wales in 2005 were Sydney–CoffsHarbour, Sydney–Albury, Sydney–Dubbo, Sydney–Wagga Wagga, Sydney–Ballina andSydney–Tamworth. All carried more than 100 000 revenue passengers a year.Figure 3.17 Number of regional air routes and airlines in New South Wales,1984 to 2005220222002018018Number of air routesSource:8016014012010080604020019841985Number of routes with an average of less than three return flights a weekNumber of routes with an average of three return flights or more a weekBITRE time series estimates.1986198719881989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004Number of airlines20051614121086420Number of airlines