New flights take off from Brisbane for bumper Easter
A range of new routes are ready for takeoff from Brisbane over the next month, with more than 1.3 people expected to pass through the airport in April.
QLD News
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A new range of direct routes will begin operating out of Brisbane Airport to coincide with the Easter school holidays.
From Thursday, Virgin Australia will again fly from Brisbane to Samoa before Jetstar launches a Brisbane to Auckland route on Monday.
Virgin will then restart its Brisbane to Vanuatu flights from March 31.
From April 23, Korean Air will resume flights between Brisbane and Seoul.
Brisbane Airport Corporation Head of Public Affairs Stephen Beckett said thousands more people would travel through the airport this year than last with the increase in seats available.
“Last Easter was super busy, historically it is the busiest time for Queensland as it’s cooling down everywhere else, and so everyone wants to come here.”
Brisbane Airport Corporation forecasts Easter holiday capacity on domestic flights was up 2 per cent on 2022 levels and capacity on international flights was up 77 per cent.
It expected the busiest days to be Easter Thursday, Easter Friday and Easter Monday.
1.4 million people are predicted to pass through the airport between April 1 to 25, an increase of 13 per cent on last year, due mainly to international travel’s recovery post pandemic.
“We do ask domestic travellers to continue arriving 90 minutes before domestic departures, and three hours prior for overseas travel, so that you build in a buffer to cope with busy roads, parking, terminals or delays to your Uber or taxi,” said Mr Beckett.
“If you’re driving, make sure you book online as far in advance as possible, to save money and time. If you’re picking up friends or family, there are dedicated waiting areas to park, and track the flight so you’re a step ahead of any changes.”
He added that inbound tourists would mostly come from New Zealand, UK and USA.
Meanwhile, he said India was emerging as a top destination for Queenslanders heading overseas behind New Zealand, Bali and the UK.
“India is one market showing dramatic growth in two-way traffic. Before the pandemic it was our eighth biggest inbound market, now it is the fourth largest.”
“For Queenslanders travelling abroad, in 2019 India was 11th, now it is the 6th most popular destination,” Mr Beckett said.
He expected more service announcements after Brisbane welcomed the first of twice-weekly direct flights from Ho Chi Minh City in June, which is expected to bring more than 31,000 visitors arrive in Queensland within the first year.
“We’re working with a number of our current airlines to increase frequencies and a range of additional destinations … 75 per cent of all international arrivals in QLD transfer through Brisbane,” said Mr Beckett
“When Queensland tourism gets busy, Brisbane airport gets busy. Once people hit Brisbane we can send them to 53 places around the country, that’s more than Melbourne or Sydney.”
Brisbane Airport’s service expansion follows a number of other destinations added recently, including the resumption of direct flights to the Philippines, Taiwan, San Francisco and Vancouver.
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