University student Breanna Goodear was among the passengers on the FlyPelican direct service from Port Macquarie to Canberra on Thursday (November 5).

"I think it is a great benefit for everybody," Miss Goodear said about the new flights.

"Hopefully it will open up new jobs in the area and it will bring people in for tourism.

"I think it will help the area bloom a little bit."

Miss Goodear travelled to Canberra to visit her partner who is working there.

The Thrumster resident said the ease of a quick flight with no stopover meant she would probably head back to Canberra for a holiday in the future.

FlyPelican officially launched its twice weekly Port Macquarie to Canberra direct service on November 1.

FlyPelican chief executive officer Marty Hawley said it had been fantastic to launch direct services between Canberra and Port Macquarie.

"The flights have been well received by the local communities and we hope they will be well supported to ensure they become a permanent fixture in our growing network," he said.

Mayor Peta Pinson and tourism and business sector representatives have welcomed the new service.

Port Macquarie's Margaret Egan supported the new flights as part of a Canberra visit to celebrate her sister's 60^th birthday.

Ms Egan said it was brilliant to have direct flights to and from Canberra.

She had planned to drive to Canberra but the new FlyPelican service changed all that.

Ms Egan said the direct flights would also benefit tourism.

"It is just what our community needed," she said.

The direct flights operate initially every Thursday and Sunday afternoon.

Port Macquarie is the ninth destination added to the FlyPelican network and its third destination from Canberra Airport.

Port Macquarie Airport is becoming busier with more flights on the timetable including Qantas flights between Port Macquarie and Brisbane from November 18.

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