Whitsunday Coast Airport is celebrating a significant five-year deal with Jetstar Airways that is set to deliver up to a 30 percent uplift in passenger numbers compared to 2024, driven by a significant boost in flight frequency across multiple routes.
While QantasLink flights will cease from October, increased Jetstar services will exceed previous
capacity and significantly boost connectivity to the Whitsundays.
A key feature of the new deal is the introduction of Jetstar’s larger A321 aircraft significantly
increasing passenger capacity per flight.
Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Ry Collins welcomed the announcement which includes daily
flights to Melbourne, up to 11 weekly services to Sydney and 10 weekly services to Brisbane.
“Jetstar’s continued investment in the Whitsundays reflects their strong confidence in our region as a premier destination,” Mayor Collins said.
“With consistently strong load factors to Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, this expansion is a
natural next step, and we expect to see even greater passenger growth during future school
holiday and peak travel periods,” he said.
“With the additional direct capacity, Whitsunday Coast Airport will continue to deliver on its promise - cheaper, faster, direct.”
Director of Commercial Businesses Craig Turner said the airport’s collaborative approach with
Jetstar to increase capacity is an exciting outcome for both the airport and the wider Whitsunday
region.
“We anticipate it will lead to more competitive fares - a win for the community and our visitors,
while also strengthening the airport’s revenue base,” Mr Turner said.
“Tourism, agriculture, mining and freight distribution already play a vital role in our regional
economy and these additional flights will help us capitalise on those strengths. Increased
connectivity makes it easier to do business in the Whitsundays and opens the door to further
growth across these key sectors,” he said.
“With the introduction of the larger A321 aircraft, capable of flying greater distances, Whitsunday
Coast Airport will also now be positioned to explore longer-haul routes in the future.”
Mayor Collins noted the increased capacity and potential for expanded connectivity adds weight to
Council’s push for $8.25M and $22.6M in federal funding to deliver Stage 1 projects from the 2024
Master Plan.
“Ensuring our airport infrastructure can keep pace with demand and support continued growth is
integral and the recent announcement also provides valuable data and momentum for our ongoing
advocacy efforts to secure this strategic investment.”
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