Another holiday destination has been opened up for Gold Coast and Canberra residents just in time for the school holiday period, with extra flights scheduled following the lifting of border restrictions between Queensland and the ACT.

From 25 September, for the first time in more than two decades, Qantas will operate up to four flights per week between Canberra and the Gold Coast. The service is supported by funding from the Queensland Government’s $15 million aviation recovery fund and enhances existing Gold Coast-Canberra services.

Assistant Tourism Minister Meaghan Scanlon said it was great news for the Gold Coast.

“This service is set to deliver potential overnight visitor expenditure of $903,000 over that four-week period. To date, our aviation recovery fund has supported eight services which are estimated to potentially deliver $36.73m million in overnight visitor expenditure, while also supporting more than 300 jobs.

“With Queensland’s borders reopening to the ACT from Friday (September 25), we’ll be able to welcome residents from our nation’s capital to come enjoy a holiday on the beautiful Gold Coast.”

Gold Coast Airport COO Marion Charlton welcomed the Qantas Gold Coast-Canberra service, and the lifting of border restrictions by the Queensland Government to the ACT more generally.

“This is another positive step for us, and comes at the right time in the lead up to school holidays,” she said.

“It is great to have Qantas back flying between the Gold Coast and Canberra.”

The service, which operates during the school holidays, is supported by funding from the Queensland Government’s $15 million aviation recovery fund and will boost an existing Gold Coast-Canberra service.

“Queenslanders and ACT residents are no doubt looking for more places to holiday and friends and family will be wanting to connect after a long period of border closures, so we are confident this service will be well supported,” she said.

“More flights have also been scheduled between the Gold Coast and Cairns and Adelaide during this school holiday period.”

QantasLink CEO John Gissing said the new four-week seasonal service was aimed at increasing tourism to the popular south east region of Queensland.

“This new flight means you leave Canberra at lunch and by mid-afternoon you can be sitting on the beach enjoying everything the Gold Coast has to offer,” he said.

“As the national carrier, we’re proud to be offering this new service from the nation’s capital, all taking off just in time for school holidays.

“We know there is significant pent up demand for domestic travel with Australians wanting to explore their own backyard. We’ll monitor demand on the route and if it proves successful, we could look to operating flights over the summer school holiday period.”

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