Jetstar will offer flights to four major Australian cities from Avalon Airport next year after announcing new flights to Hobart and Adelaide will start from March 2016.
The low fares airline will offer four return services a week from Avalon to Hobart as well as three return flights a week between Avalon and Adelaide.
Jetstar Australia and New Zealand CEO David Hall said the introduction of these new routes was great news for local travellers.
“In less than a year we will have expanded from a single route to Sydney to offer local travellers direct flights to four major Australian cities”, Mr Hall said.
“Adelaide and Hobart offer some of the country’s best tourism experiences and we’re confident the convenient mid-morning departures will appeal to travellers from Geelong and western Melbourne. We were overwhelmed by the community support for our Gold Coast services earlier this year, and we’re looking forward to a similarly positive customer response to these new flights to Hobart and Adelaide.”
Victorian Minister for Tourism and Major Events, John Eren welcomed the announcement.
“We’re thrilled Jetstar is once again expanding its services out of Avalon Airport, because it means jobs for locals and a boost to tourism,” Mr Eren said.
“Jetstar’s announcement is great news for the region and for Victoria. Today’s commitment means more visitors from South Australia and Tasmania will be able to sample our great local treasures and see for themselves we have the best of everything.”
Mr Hall said the outlook was great for local tourism in 2016 with the two new routes bringing another 65,000 seats a year into Avalon.
“From March 2016, Avalon will be directly linked to a population of more than 6.5 million travellers across four cities,” Mr Hall said.
“Avalon is the natural gateway to the Great Ocean Road, Surf Coast and Otways, and these new services have the potential to attract tens of thousands of new visitors to visit these wonderful attractions each year.”
The launch of these new routes fulfils Jetstar’s commitment to offer more destinations and flights from Avalon as part of its 10-year agreement with the Victorian Government and airport owners Linfox Group.
With the introduction of the new services, Jetstar will offer more than 900,000 seats a year in and out of Avalon.