The first new international service – Virgin Australia’s Gold Coast-Bali service – to connect with the Gold Coast Airport terminal expansion has been announced.

Queensland Airports Limited CEO Chris Mills today welcomed the launch of Gold Coast-Bali flights, which will start operating in March next year.

“This service, linking two of the world’s top surf and lifestyle destinations, will be extremely popular with locals,” he said.

Mr Mills said it was exciting to consider the passengers traveling on this service would be starting and ending their journeys at the Gold Coast Airport terminal expansion.

“This fresh, modern facility is almost complete and will give us the space we need to make way for the long term growth in demand we are expecting,” he said.

“This is the first new international service. We expanded the terminal because we are confident about future growth and demand in and out of the Gold Coast.”

Mr Mills said the service further cemented the Gold Coast Airport and Virgin Australia connection.

“We have seen significant growth in Virgin Australia services in and out of Gold Coast Airport through the travel recovery, and this is a clear demonstration of what can happen with a strong partnership,” he said.

Virgin Australia Group CEO Jayne Hrdlicka said the addition of the new Bali service reflected the growth in demand for services in and out of the Gold Coast Airport as well as the airline’s expanding presence there, with the new route set to further enhance Virgin Australia’s network from the Gold Coast.

“We are currently seeing continued growth in travel demand for Gold Coast services and are operating up to 180 domestic flights outbound each week,” she said.

“In May alone our Gold Coast bookings were up 55 per cent compared to 2019, with bookings on our existing Bali flights up 48 per cent for the same period and growing every week.

“With the addition of the Gold Coast Airport terminal expansion and demand for Bali rising, the time is right to connect these two famous holiday destinations as well as the surf breaks, wellness activities and nightlife that comes with them.”