Bendigo will be connected to Sydney with regular flights operated by Qantas starting early next year, marking the first regular commercial airline services out of the Victorian city in more than three decades.

Qantas announced on Monday it would operate return flights six days a week from the historic gold-rush town, increasing to daily flights during the peak summer period, using QantasLink's 50-seat Bombardier Q300 turboprop aircraft.

Qantas said the service was launched in response to demand from local businesses that needed an easier way to get to Sydney. Credit:Bloomberg

QantasLink chief executive John Gissing said the new service, to start on March 31, was in response to demand from local businesses that needed an easier way to get to Sydney, and was made possible by recent upgrades to Bendigo Airport.

“No airline has ever offered regular passenger flights between Bendigo and Sydney– so these flights are a win for both travellers and tourism," Mr Gissing said.