Gold Coast airline price war set to break out between Virgin and Qantas as rivals ramp up capacity with restrictions easing

An aviation expert is forecasting an aggressive price war could break out in the Gold Coast market between rival airlines Qantas and Virgin after the latter unveiled the return of its ‘Happy Hour’ sale.

AN aviation expert is forecasting an aggressive price war could break out in the Gold Coast market between rival airlines Qantas and Virgin after the latter unveiled the return of its ‘Happy Hour’ sale.

Virgin, which was taken over by US private equity giant Bain Capital on Wednesday, has announced an expansion of its domestic network to cover 28 destinations as well as cheap airfares between Gold Coast and Sydney and Canberra and Gold Coast.

Virgin is offering customers fares of $95 and $299 for economy and business class return trips between Gold Coast and Sydney from July 27 to August 29.

It also unveiled fares between Canberra and Gold Coast from July 13 to August 31 and July 13 and August 7 for $129 economy and $299 business class return respectively.

Virgin is ramping up its Gold Coast flights in the wake of the Queensland Government confirming the NSW border will reopen on July 10 to all states and territories except Victoria.

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Virgin Australia chief commercial officer John MacLeod called the return of its Happy Hour fares a “win for travellers”.

A Virgin spokeswoman said that when Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confirmed earlier this week that the border would reopen for all states and territories except Victoria on July 10 its Sydney-Gold Coast flight for that day sold out.

She said the airline had put on an additional flight for July 10 due to the strong demand.

Qantas-owned Jetstar responded last night to Virgin with its Friday Fare Frenzy with thousands of tickets priced from $45 for flights ­including Gold Coast to ­Adelaide.

Professor Rico Merkert, the deputy director of the Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies at the University of Sydney, said Jetstar’s approach to the Gold Coast market would be key for travellers.

“I can assure you Qantas will fight for each and every customer in this environment if Virgin is going to price it aggressively Qantas will do exactly the same,” he said.