Jetstar reduces capacity to the Sunshine Coast

Jetstar announced today that it will reduce services between Melbourne and the Sunshine Coast from September 1.

Sunshine Coast Airport General Manager Peter Pallot today expressed disappointment at Jetstar’s decision to axe one of their three daily Melbourne flights.

“Today’s news follows Jetstar’s cancellation of the Adelaide to Sunshine Coast route on July 1 and is a real blow to our destination,” Mr Pallot said.

“We have worked very hard with our airline partners over the past two years to secure additional capacity into the key markets of Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide which resulted in a record 918,000 passengers during 2007/08,” he said.

“Our aim now, is to work with the airlines, business and tourism partners to protect our existing flights and continue to work to win back lost capacity including our Adelaide route,” Mr Pallot said.

“While passenger numbers have remained solid on this route, the profitability has been significantly eroded by the incredible increases in the price of jet fuel over the past few months.”

Mr Pallot said regional Australia was bearing the brunt of the effect of high fuel prices and this would impact on the local tourism industry and the regional economy.

“The Sunshine Coast is still one of the most popular tourist destinations in Queensland and we are working with Tourism Sunshine Coast and our local tourism organisations to ensure that a share of the $4 m Queensland Government assistance package announced last month finds its way to the Sunshine Coast to drive demand and complement our own regional partnership marketing initiatives,” Mr Pallot said.

Jetstar’s three daily services to Sydney are not affected by the changes.

Sunshine Coast Airport is also serviced by Virgin Blue, with services from the Sunshine Coast to both Melbourne and Sydney twice daily and Tiger Airways with 3 services a week to Melbourne.