Jetstar Launches New Long-Haul Route from Australia's Sunshine Coast
On November 6, Jetstar announced a new route starting in March, flying from the Sunshine Coast—Australia's tenth-busiest airport—to Bali, then on to Singapore. This marks another expansion for the low-cost carrier under Qantas.
Route Details and Market Context
The new one-stop service will cover 3,308 nautical miles (6,126 km) each way, operating three times weekly on Jetstar's 232-seat Airbus A321LR aircraft. These high-capacity, all-economy planes offer very low seat-mile costs, enabling economical long-haul flights.
Bali holds a similar appeal for Australians as Cancun does for Americans or Malaga for Europeans, making it a popular destination. The route begins March 24, backed by strong financial incentives.
Background and Challenges
- The Gold Coast recently began direct service to Bali.
- Newcastle also gained Bali flights, marking its longest-ever international route.
- Due to a lack of traffic rights from Australia's major cities to Bali, Jetstar has adopted innovative routing combined with attractive subsidies.
Jetstar aims to grow demand through this new service despite limited current booking data, partly because many travelers currently drive to Brisbane to catch nonstop flights.
"What is clear is that Jetstar will very easily grow demand from its new service."
Author’s Summary
This new Jetstar route diversifies Australian travel options by linking a regional airport to popular international destinations using cost-efficient aircraft and strategic incentives.