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About 40 high-skill aircraft engineering jobs will be created in Canberra as Qantas opens a new heavy maintenance facility in October. Plans for the new Boeing 717 engineering facility were announced on Friday by QantasLink chief executive officer John Gissing, who was joined by ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr. Heavy maintenance work to be done at the site includes detailed checks ofthe twin-engine aircraft, which are performed every two years. QantasLink operates 18 of the 717 aircraft around its Australian routes. Mr Barr said QantasLink's decision to bring the heavy maintenance work from Adelaide to Canberra would contribute about $5 million to the territory's economy every year. The first jobs will move within weeks. As part of the announcement, about 14 staff from an associated contracting company in Canberra could face redundancies. The workers could be reassigned to other positions or join crews at the new QantasLink facility. The announcement won't affect Qantas or QantasLink passengers. Mr Barr said he would welcome further conversations with Qantas about route expansion. The new agreement allows for the program to expand in coming years. "It is part of an ACT Government objective to grow the aviation sector of our economy and to leverage off the magnificent investment for Canberra Airport," Mr Barr said. "The 717 product is relative new into the Canberra market. It has been really well received. It's an exciting opportunity for our city to continue to grow aviation and we look forward to the jobs and significant economic benefits that flow from this announcement." Mr Gissing said it takes crews an average of about 28 days and 5500 man hours for an aircraft's regular heavy maintenance check. Every few days crews conduct basic additional line maintenance checks at airports in cities including Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. "From October, Canberra will be at the heart of our Boeing 717 engineering operations, which will complement our increased flying out of Canberra with this aircraft type and allow us to better utilise our existing assets at Canberra Airport," Mr Gissing said in a statement. "This is an investment in new jobs and technical capabilities at Canberra Airport and builds on our strong commitment of over 260 Qantas Group employees in the ACT." Qantas operates more than 230 return flights each week from Canberra to cities including Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane Perth and Adelaide. The ACT Government is continuing its push to bring direct international flights to Canberra AIrport. This week the government signed a new and revised memorandum of understanding with the airport corporation.

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