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Here Comes The Sun: Airlines Add Thousands Of Extra Seats To QLD, VIC & NSW

Virgin Australia, Qantas and Jetstar have welcomed the Queensland Government’s decision to reopen the border to Greater Sydney & VIC expanding frequencies and resuming several interstate services. 

Virgin Australia, Qantas and Jetstar have welcomed the Queensland Government’s decision to reopen the border to Greater Sydney & VIC expanding frequencies and resuming several interstate services. 

Following the announcement that the Queensland Government is lifting border restrictions for Sydneysiders and Victorians, Virgin Australia, Jetstar and Qantas are adding thousands of new seats ready for the surge of Queensland bookings.

Christmas is just around the corner and everyone is in desperate need of a family reunion and/or holiday, and it looks like QLD will be the place to be.

With interstate travel from VIC to QLD worth $3.2Bn and from NSW to QLD is worth $4.38Bn each year, these trips will also help reboot the domestic economy – so it’s a win, win.

“Based on the demand we’re seeing already, Queenslanders can expect to welcome a lot more visitors in the next few months.”

Alan Joyce, Qantas Group CEO

Virgin Australia

Christmas_Queensland

Virgin Australia Group has added more than 65,000 seats between Queensland and New South Wales by Christmas – ready for lots of fun this Summer.

Customers will benefit from additional frequencies between Sydney-Brisbane, Sydney-Gold Coast, Sydney-Sunshine Coast and Newcastle-Brisbane, while flights between Sydney-Cairns, Sydney-Hamilton Island and Sydney-Whitsunday Coast (Proserpine) will take-off again ahead of Christmas. 

Virgin Australia will also offer travellers thousands of seats between Melbourne, after today’s announcement that borders will open to Victoria from 1 December. 

The significant increase in Virgin Australia services between the two states will predominantly be on core leisure and capital city routes and will include additional frequencies between Melbourne-Brisbane, while flights between Melbourne-Gold Coast, Melbourne-Sunshine Coast and Melbourne-Cairns will take-off just in time for Christmas, for the first time since late March.

Virgin Australia General Manager Network and Revenue Management Russell Shaw said the Queensland Government’s decision to reopen the border with Greater Sydney and Victoria will help the airline and tourism industry to get back on its feet and put more people back to work. 

“The additional services will be timed to provide choice and convenience for customers, while at the same time give travellers the opportunity to do business and reconnect with loved ones, families and friends ahead of the well-earned Christmas break.”

Russell Shaw, Virgin Australia General Manager Network and Revenue Management

Qantas & Jetstar

Qantas

Qantas and Jetstar will operate more than 1200 extra return flights into the Sunshine State from New South Wales and Victoria in the lead up to Christmas.

From 1 December, the two airlines will operate more than 250 return flights per week across seven routes from Sydney. This compares with just 36 return flights per week currently.

Qantas and Jetstar will also operate more than 160 flights per week from Melbourne from 1 December. Jetstar will also operate four weekly services from Avalon to the Gold Coast from January.

The easing of border restrictions means both airlines will reinstate more than 10 routes which had been suspended providing more choice and a mix of premium and leisure travel.

“We can’t wait to see a repeat of the heartwarming scenes in Melbourne and Sydney this week with families reuniting after months apart, this time in Queensland.”

Alan Joyce, Qantas Group CEO

The additional flights will return the Qantas Group’s flying schedule to around 60 per cent of pre-COVID levels by Christmas. Both airlines will continue to monitor demand closely and look to add more flying as required.

By early December, Qantas Frequent Flyers will have access to 30 of the 35 domestic and regional lounges across the airline’s network.

READ: YES! Queensland Border To Reopen To All Of NSW Next Week With VIC To Follow

READ: Proof Of COVID-Vaccine Will Be Needed To Fly Qantas Internationally: Alan Joyce