BUDGET airline Jetstar is expected to today announce daily direct flights between Cairns and the Gold Coast. Would you use such a service? Where else would you like to see Jetstar fly?
Jetstar boss Bruce Buchanan is flying in this morning to host a press conference.
Last night, company executives were tight-lipped about the expected announcement.
Tourism sources are widely anticipating this morning’s announcement, saying the daily Gold Coast flights would be a timely boost.
Jetstar corporate relations head Simon Westaway would not reveal any details about the new flights.
"Jetstar CEO Bruce Buchanan is visiting Cairns tomorrow to meet with airport executives and also tourism leaders in Cairns," he said.
"The election might be over but he’s bringing a bag of goodies.
"The announcement will be the single biggest expansion of domestic services from Cairns airport.
"It will mean more flights and a significant uplift in capacity in our domestic growth (from Cairns)."
At the moment, Jetstar flies direct to the Gold Coast three times a week, as well as daily to Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Darwin, Perth and Adelaide.
Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief executive Rob Giason said he did not know what routes the airline would be announcing but believed it would involve the Gold Coast.
"It will link two important leisure destinations. We're hoping it will be the Gold Coast," he said.
"It will tie in nicely. Jetstar also flies direct to the Gold Coast from Japan and New Zealand."
Since Jetstar and Cairns airport signed a long-term pricing agreement the airline has reinstated four weekly flights to Osaka in Japan, more services to Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth and last month announced three weekly return flights to Auckland from April next year.
In other new flights, Singapore Airlines subsidiary Tiger Airways will start daily late night flights between Cairns and Melbourne next month, Cathay Pacific is adding daily flights to Hong Kong and QantasLink has started direct flights to Port Moresby.
Jetstar also has struck a new marketing deal with Air France-KLM where customers can book flights to Cairns using low-cost carrier Jetstar on the website of Air France-KLM, one of Europe’s largest airline companies.
