The appetite for flights in and out of the Gold Coast, particularly among Kiwi travellers, is stronger than ever, with Jetstar ramping up capacity by upping its Dunedin and Hamilton services from three to four flights weekly starting next March.
Demand has reportedly been so strong that many flights have sold out, with Jetstar stating that load factors have exceeded 90%.
The Dunedin (DUD) and Hamilton (HLZ) routes only launched from the Gold Coast in June under the auspices of the Attracting Aviation Investment Fund (AAIF), backed by the Queensland Government.
Despite their recent launch, the routes have quickly exceeded expectations. Gold Coast Airport (OOL) reportedly welcomed over 40,000 passengers on those flights alone in just five months.
The additional flights will offer even “more options” for travellers, according to Queensland Airports Limited (QAL).
QAL’s Chief of Aviation, Adam Rowe, described the expansion as a positive sign for the network’s strength. “We welcome Jetstar’s commitment to the Gold Coast by continuing to build on the strong demand for travel between New Zealand and our region,” he said, highlighting the airport’s record as “Australia’s most connected airport to New Zealand.”
From Jetstar’s side, Executive Manager Commercial Planning Lyle Brownscombe noted the extra flights will give “customers on both sides of the Tasman more flexibility to plan their next getaway.”
He emphasised that “the Gold Coast and New Zealand are both high on the holiday wish list.”
For the tourism industry on both sides of the Tasman, the announcement is being hailed as a windfall. Experience Gold Coast CEO John Warn said the expanded service is “terrific news” and a clear sign of the “continued strength of the New Zealand market” for the city.
OOL: More flights to New Zealand than any other Australian airport
With the addition of Dunedin and Hamilton, Gold Coast Airport (OOL) now offers direct flights to six New Zealand destinations (including Christchurch, Auckland, Wellington and Queenstown), more than any other Australian airport.
That network breadth and growing seat capacity reinforce the airport’s claim as Jetstar’s busiest Australian hub for Trans‑Tasman flights during peak periods.
For the Gold Coast tourism sector, the ramp-up couldn’t come at a better time, as airports and airlines rebuild post‑pandemic connectivity and chase the influx of international visitors ahead of the 2032 Summer Olympic Games in Brisbane.
