Media release from Queenstown Airport
9 September 2014
Queenstown Airport welcomes Jetstar’s new Gold Coast service
Queenstown Airport welcomed today’s announcement by Jetstar to launch a trans-Tasman service between the Gold Coast and
Queenstown at the end of the year.
The low-cost carrier will commence flights on 13 December with three non-stop services per week on Mondays, Thursdays
and Saturdays.
Queenstown Airport Corporation (QAC) CEO Scott Paterson said it was positive news for the region’s tourism and would
boost capacity and connectivity to its key visitor market of Australia and beyond.
“We congratulate the Jetstar team and look forward to working closely with them, our tourism partners and Gold Coast
Airport to maximise this opportunity,” he said.
“Based on the double-digit passenger growth we’ve seen on our trans-Tasman routes in the past few years, we know that
the Queenstown Lakes region is a very desirable destination for Australians. Queensland in particular is a real growth
area for us and this will also open up a long haul opportunity for connections to Japan on the Jetstar network.”
Queenstown Airport recently reported its busiest year on record, driven primarily by sustained passenger growth from
Australia.
Trans-Tasman passenger growth jumped 28 per cent to 308,000 passengers, with the Brisbane route a standout performer,
increasing 57 per cent in the 2013-2014 financialyear.
Mr Paterson believed the service would be very attractive to both inbound and outbound travellers.
“This new route will provide travellers with more choices between Queensland and Queenstown and give us the ability to
tap into the northern New South Wales and south-east Queensland catchment area which equates to about 1.5 million
residents.
“With our spectacular lake and alpine scenery, world-class experiences and easy access to five ski areas only a
three-and-a-half hour flight from the Gold Coast, it’s a great value holiday option for Australians.
“Conversely, the lure of the Gold Coast’s sun, surf and golden sands is bound to be strong for lower South Island
residents looking to head away for a long weekend or extended beach holiday,” he said.
ENDS