Monday, 16 September 2024: Jetstar will significantly expand its Gold Coast network, offering new direct flights to Hamilton and Dunedin in New Zealand from June 2025.
Both new services will take off three times a week, creating more than 115,000 new low fares seats every year across the Tasman and providing a multi-million-dollar boost to the Gold Coast's tourism industry.
It will be the first time Jetstar has flown to the city of Hamilton, giving Queenslanders a second gateway to the North Island and convenient access to holiday hot spots like Rotorua, the Bay of Plenty and Hobbiton.
The new service between the Gold Coast and Dunedin will boost access to the South Island's second largest city and provide more options for people to road trip across New Zealand by flying into one part of the country and out of another on Jetstar's network.
To support the new services, Jetstar will base an additional aircraft on the Gold Coast from June 2025 - bringing the airline's local fleet to six.
Today's announcement follows the signing of a seven-year agreement between the Qantas Group and Queensland Airports, which will support future growth for both Jetstar and Qantas and lead to more flights and low fares for Queenslanders. In addition to the new services from the Gold Coast, Jetstar has also announced another new trans-Tasman route from Sydney to Hamilton, which will also take off from June 2025 and create more than 75,000 new low fares seats every year.
ROUTE LAUNCH SALE
To celebrate today's announcement, Jetstar is launching a 24-hour Route Launch Sale with sale fares available at Jetstar.com from 10am AEST, including:
• Gold Coast to Hamilton from $155^
• Gold Coast to Dunedin from $169^
• Sydney to Hamilton from $159^
Jetstar Group CEO, Stephanie Tully, said today's announcement is great news for the Gold Coast region.
"Tourism is a key industry on the Gold Coast and the new agreement with Queensland Airports will support the growth of inbound tourism and provide a big boost to local operators.
"It's also great news for customers, with the new routes unlocking more than 115,000 new low fares seats a year between the Gold Coast and Hamilton and Dunedin, while helping to connect the city's large population of Kiwi ex-pats to their home country."
"We thank the Queensland Government and Queensland Airports for their ongoing support of low fares travel across the Sunshine State."
Queensland Airports Limited CEO, Amelia Evans, said the new services offer greater connectivity and choice for customers, making air travel more accessible for Kiwis looking to holiday on the Gold Coast.
"New Zealand is Australia's largest international visitor market, so it makes sense for us to increase our Trans-Tasman connectivity. We're proud that we'll be Australia's most connected airport to New Zealand," she said.
"These services are expected to deliver over 115,000 passengers annually to the Gold Coast, connecting the city to Dunedin for the first time and re-establishing the airport's first ever Tasman route, to Hamilton," she said.
Queensland Tourism Minister Michael Healy encouraged New Zealanders to snap up the deals while they can.
"What a win for New Zealand travellers who can now access these new, affordable, regular flights, allowing them to visit Queensland and explore this great state without blowing the budget," said Mr Healy.
"The new services will make Gold Coast Airport Australia's most connected to New Zealand, with more routes for visitors and students to arrive, with air freight heading back across the Tasman.
"Almost half a million kiwis crossed the ditch to visit Queensland in the year ending March 2024, setting a second consecutive visitor spending record with $821 million in overnight visitor expenditure."
*Non daylight savings time
^Sale ends 10.00am AEST Tuesday 17 September 2024, unless sold out prior. Prices based on payment by PayID, Jetstar voucher, Jetstar Gift Card, or bookings redeemed only in Qantas Points through jetstar.com. For other payment options, a Payment Fee applies. See jetstar.com/fees. Fares are one-way, checked baggage not included. Selected travel dates and other conditions apply. Flights subject to Government and Regulatory approval.here.
