Jetstar reportedly looking to fly from Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport to Melbourne in possible route expansion

A major airline is believed to be in talks to resurrect one of Bonza’s Toowoomba routes. It comes as another airline has cut one of its regular flights.

Low-cost airfares might be returning to Toowoomba, with Jetstar in talks to run flights from the Garden City to Melbourne for the first time since the collapse of low-cost airline Bonza.

Jetstar, Australia’s last remaining budget airline, is reportedly negotiating with Wellcamp Airport over regular flights between the two destinations.

Queensland Country Tourism chief executive Peter Homan revealed the news at the branding relaunch for the tourism body on Tuesday, saying he was “excited” by the prospect.

A Jetstar Airbus A320. Picture: Brendan Radke

“We think there’s some really good opportunities – Jetstar into Melbourne is one, but Sydney’s a really good inbound market for us,” he said.

“That’s an opportunity coming up with, Jetstar into Melbourne, so we’re really excited about that.

“Those negotiations are going on with them at the moment, so we’re excited if that can be pulled off.”

The introduction of Jetstar into Toowoomba would be a major boost to tourism, and comes several months after ultra-low cost air carrier Bonza went into administration.

Melbourne to Toowoomba was one of three regular flights in and out of the Darling Downs Bonza ran during its brief time in the air and was easily the most successful.

Toowoomba's Wellcamp Airport. Picture: Supplied.

Former Qantas economist and aviation industry expert Dr Tony Weber identified the route as one of the few originally slated by Bonza in 2022 that would make economic sense.

Toowoomba travel agent and Globetrotters travel agency co-owner Ben Apsey said he believed the move could be a real boost for tourism if executed properly.

“It would be the boost, the trouble with Bonza is they were trying to do routes with larger planes — the way you make regional routes viable is by using more efficient planes,” he said.

For its part, a Jetstar spokeswoman said it had “nothing to announce” at this point.

Wellcamp Airport general manager Kellie Banditt have been contacted for comment.

Qantas drops Sydney flight

The news comes just days after it was revealed Qantas had quietly dropped one of its Sydney flights from Wellcamp Airport.

The national carrier will no longer fly to the NSW capital on Wednesdays from Toowoomba, with the latest schedule revealing just four flights.

Mr Apsey said the scheduling reduction was made more disappointing by the fact that Qantas had been teasing more flights to and from Toowoomba.

“The flights are full, every time I travel on them they are near full, so why are they cutting services? We need a daily flight, not less,” he said.

“It’s extremely disappointing the national carrier has led the region on to think it’s going to get more flights and then has sneakily dropped one.

“There’s been no announcement, no word out of anyone.

“Wellcamp is a great airport, great facilities and it’s easy to navigate, great parking but it needs reliable flights.”

Mr Homan also called the news disappointing, but believed there was scope for growth through Wellcamp Airport.

“We’re disappointed that they’ve lost that flight and we’re also disappointed about Bonza not operating out of Wellcamp anymore (but) we think Wellcamp is a strategically great asset for us,” he said.

Originally published as Jetstar reportedly looking to fly from Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport to Melbourne in possible route expansion