Singapore budget carrier Scoot adds to flights into Gold Coast

IT is the latest budget airline to boost its flight numbers via Asia into the Gold Coast, and being hailed another tourism win for the city.

A BUDGET airline is boosting direct flights into the Gold Coast from Singapore two days out from the Commonwealth Games in a tourism win for the city.

Singapore-based air carrier Scoot is bumping up its four direct Gold Coast flights to five from Monday in a move that will add 19,000 seats to the route in the next 12 months.

Tourism and airport bosses are hailing the decision which will add to the million-plus international visitors now coming into the Gold Coast annually.

Queensland Minister for Innovation and Tourism Industry Development and Minister for the Commonwealth Games Kate Jones: “The great part about an expansion of services between the Gold Coast and Singapore is the potential this has to open up access with other key tourism markets in the UK, India and China.” (AAP Image/Dave Hunt.

Commonwealth Games and Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones told the Bulletin not only would the extra seats deliver on growing visitor numbers out of Singapore but had potential to boost key international market.

“The great part about an expansion of services between the Gold Coast and Singapore is the potential this has to open up access with other key tourism markets in the UK, India and China,” she said.

The new Scoot Dreamliner aircraft pictured touching down at Gold Coast Airport for the first time on its way to Singapore in 2015. The company has added another flight a week to take to five its direct services into the Gold Coast from Singapore. Picture by David Clark

Economic modelling show such extra capacity and the anticipated visitor boost would support up to 170 more jobs on the Gold Coast and result in a $42 million economic boost across Queensland over three years.

“The Gold Coast’s tourism industry is going from strength to strength and today’s announcement is a testament to the fact more people than ever want to visit the Coast,” she said.

“We have a strategy to ensure the Gold Coast’s tourism industry continues to grow in coming years — a big part of that has got to do with strengthening our links with key tourism markets and attracting more direct flights.”

Scoot Country Manager Australia Jared Simcox said Gold Coast-Singapore flights were expanding because of the Gold Coast’s popularity.

“The existing service has been doing well and passenger numbers continue to grow,” Mr Simcox said.

Gold Coast Airport chief operating officer Marion Charlton said it was welcome boost in time for the Games.

“The increase in services is really well timed — providing more opportunity for tourists to travel to the Gold Coast for the major event,” Ms Charlton said.

Gold Coast Tourism CEO Martin Winter said the city was getting more than 30,000 visitors a year from Singapore and the direct route was an important hub for Asian travellers.