Jetstar Airways is set to reinstate direct flights between Queensland and Thailand, reconnecting the regions for the first time since the onset of the pandemic. From December 13, the airline will offer three weekly flights from Bangkok to Brisbane. According to the Queensland Department of Tourism and Sport, this route reestablishment is projected to contribute over 190,000 additional inbound seats to Queensland within three years, potentially generating 116 million Australian dollars in visitor expenditure and creating up to 630 jobs.
Supported by the Attracting Aviation Investment Fund, the initiative has helped Queensland secure 32 new or restored aviation routes since February 2022. The direct flights will be operated using a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, cutting the current travel time by approximately half to just over eight hours, a significant decrease from the indirect routes available since Thai Airways International stopped servicing Brisbane on March 29, 2020.
Each flight will also carry up to 15 tons of freight, aiding Queensland exporters, especially those in the meat, fish, and fresh produce sectors.
Michael Healy, Queensland’s Minister for Tourism and Sport, said Jetstar’s budget-friendly fares are expected to make Brisbane more accessible to international students and travelers from across Asia, the UK, and Europe, who use Bangkok as a transit hub.
Flights are scheduled to depart Brisbane at 2:20 p.m. on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, returning from Bangkok at 8:25 a.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, beginning December 13. (NNT)
