Qantas and Virgin Australia are both launching new routes and increasing flight frequencies in time for the Easter holidays.
From 1 April 2021, Qantas will commence three new routes to both Coffs Harbour and Byron Bay (Ballina):
- Melbourne to Coffs Harbour – flights will operate daily with Qantas’ Boeing 717 aircraft, adding more than 1,750 seats on the route each week
- Brisbane to Coffs Harbour – flights will operate four days per week with the turboprop Q400 aircraft, adding around 600 seats on the route each week
- Canberra to Byron Bay – Qantas’ first ever direct service connecting the two destinations, offering two flights per week with the turboprop Q400 aircraft. Flights will initially operate in April and Qantas will look to continue the service from July in line with demand.
Qantas is offering special fares for flights on the new routes from $129 one-way.
Virgin Australia is launching new direct services between Adelaide-Sunshine Coast (four per week) and Melbourne-Ballina Byron (up to six per week), which will initially operate across the Easter holiday period from 29 March 2021 until 25 April 2021, with lead-in economy class fares available from $129 one way.
These flights will be operated by Boeing 737 aircraft.
Like Qantas, Virgin is also increasing frequencies on popular holiday routes such as Cairns, Hamilton Island, Whitsunday Coast (Proserpine), Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Ballina Byron (Byron Bay), Launceston, Hobart, Broome and Kununurra.
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