Sun and surfing Australians have responded to their prayers with an exciting announcement made by Virgin Australia.
Virgin will soon be the first Australian airline with a direct flight from the Gold Coast to Bali, as eager travelers work quickly to make up for lost time during the pandemic.
The carrier made the exciting announcement on Tuesday, revealing that the new service would begin on March 29 next year.
The direct flight will take about six and a half hours, with 2,200 seats leaving the Gold Coast each week for the popular holiday destination.
Seats can now be booked, and travelers planning next year can now get round-trip tickets for just over $ 500.
Virgin Australia Group CEO Jayne Hrdlicka said the addition was a reflection of how trips between the Gold Coast and Bali had become popular following Covid’s travel bans.
“We are currently seeing continued growth in travel demand for Gold Coast services and we operate up to 180 domestic flights departing each week,” Ms. Hrdlicka.
“In May alone, our Gold Coast bookings increased by 55% compared to 2019, with bookings of our existing flights to Bali increasing by 48% over the same period and growing every week.
“With the addition of the new international terminal at Gold Coast Airport and the increasing demand in Bali, it is the right time to connect these two famous holiday destinations, as well as the surf breaks, the activities of well-being and the nightlife that accompanies them. “
Queensland Airports Limited CEO Chris Mill said he was confident the new route would be a success.
“This service, which links two of the world’s top surfing and lifestyle destinations, will be very popular with locals,” Mills said.
“We have seen significant growth in Virgin Australia’s services in and out of Gold Coast Airport through the recovery of the voyage, and this is a clear demonstration of what can happen with a strong partnership.”
And surfers will be happy to note that the airline has confirmed that there will be no additional charges for carrying a standard board.
“Surfboards enclosed in a rigid protective bag, with the fins removed, weighing less than 23 kg and being shorter than 3 m do not incur excess baggage costs and are considered part of the baggage allowance. billed when you book a Choice or Flex fare with Virgin Australia, ”said a statement.
Flights will depart and arrive at Gold Coast’s new $ 500 million international terminal, which will open in mid-2022.
The announcement came when flights to Bali from Sydney will resume on Wednesday, while flights from Melbourne and Brisbane will resume on Friday.
Virgin Australia’s short-haul international operations continue to grow, and Virgin Australia also plans to soon resume services in both Vanuatu and Samoa along with its services in Fiji, Bali and Queenstown, New Zealand.