Jetstar launches new route to Aussie west coast beach escape

In January 2024, in its first month of operation, the new Hilton Garden Inn Busselton had a robust 80 per cent occupancy rate, surprising Australian Hilton management.

A company that might not be surprised is Jetstar.

Busselton Jetty.

Buoyed by the success of its thrice-weekly Melbourne-Busselton service introduced in 2022, the airline started flying three times a week between Sydney and Busselton from March 26. The flight is operated by an Airbus A320 aircraft.

Two and a half hours by road from Perth, Busselton is in Western Australia’s south-west and part of the famous Margaret River wine and gourmet region.

Unspoiled beaches and keen surf breaks are also home to the Margaret River Pro, a top international surf competition.

Timber railway line … Manjimup, Western Australia. Credit: iStock

There are world-famous vineyards, acclaimed restaurants, charming accommodation options, and inland, a series of state forests that hold giant trees and atmospheric villages such as Manjimup and Bridgetown, the latter playing host to a popular yearly blues festival.

Jetstar tips the Sydney-Busselton service will make a west coast visit easier for both domestic and international tourists.

The Melbourne service carried 50,000 passengers in its first year.

Jetstar Group CEO Stephanie Tully says: “Holidaymakers from Sydney will be able to fly direct to Margaret River in about five hours for as low as $109 one way.

“Our flights from Melbourne have already been incredibly popular and once our Sydney flights launch, we’ll be carrying well over 100,000 customers to and from this captivating region annually.”

Busselton’s Hilton Garden Inn.Credit: Supplied

Jetstar is the only commercial airline offering direct flights between the east coast and Busselton Margaret River Airport.

Otherwise, the small regional facility is used for fly-in fly-out charters and sometimes, RAAF planes. The site is no stranger to military flights. An aerodrome was established in 1940, and used regularly during World War II.

It was replaced by the current airport in 1997 and since then, several small airlines have run services, the last of which was Virgin Australia’s Perth to Albany via Busselton flight, which ended in 2015.

Upgrades to the airport have been mooted.

Jetstar’s service is JQ899, departing Sydney at 11.10am and arriving in Busselton at 1.10pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with the return taking off at 1.55pm, touching down in Sydney at 9pm.

See jetstar.com