By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
NEW Gold Coast flights will send 65,000 more passengers through Avalon Airport a year, Jetstar has announced.
The daily return service from 26 October is part of a 10-year, $26 million commitment struck between the airline, airport and State Government earlier this year.
As part of the contract Jetstar will eventually increase its flights from five to seven a day and add another domestic destination.
Geelong tourism boss Roger Grant said the new service would open up the friends-and-relatives market between the two regions.
“Lots of people from Geelong and the Bellarine have friends and relatives in the Gold Coast and it opens up a significant market for us,” Mr Grant said.
“We need it to be viable and run for decent period of time, so it’s important to have strong outward as well as inward passenger movement.
“With the times of the flights this will be a significant step forward in the viability of the service.
“There are a lot of Victorians who have retired or shifted there and this provides an ideal excuse for them to come back as flights commence at start of the spring-summer period.
“We have a number of events at that time when the region is looking its best.”
Mr Grant put up Adelaide as his preferred second destination, which Jetstar is yet to announce under the deal.
“Adelaide would be another good one because there are a lot of synergies, particularly if we can get international flights to Avalon.
“I can envisage tourists visiting through Geelong and the Bellarine, down the Great Ocean Road to Adelaide and picking up a flight to come back again.”
Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) chief Dianne Smith said the Geelong region would now have direct access to a population of more than 500,000 around the Gold Coast airport.
“The additional 65,000 seats a year coming into Avalon will provide a significant opportunity to showcase all the region has to offer throughout greater Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula and the Great Ocean Road,“ Ms Smith said.
“We commend the Government for working together with Jetstar to reach this outcome and deliver a win for Victorian tourism.”
The Queensland services will depart Avalon at 10am and return 2:45pm.
