Travel: Virgin Australia launches half price flash sale on tickets
Virgin has reacted to demand and is offering half price airfares as part of a newly announced flash sale. FIND OUT MORE
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VIRGIN Australia has reacted to demand and is offering half price airfares as part of a flash sale ahead of the launch of the Federal Government’s tourism relief campaign.
It was announced earlier this week the Gold Coast would headline a $12 billion government tourism and aviation package to encourage domestic travel.
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More than 800,000 half-price tickets will be on offer between April 1 and July 31 – but on Friday Virgin revealed its “half price flash sale following extensive customer inquiry”.
Half price one-way economy fares will be up for grabs from 4pm-6pm (AEST) on Friday on all Virgin services nationally, or until the tickets are sold out.
The travel period is March 15 to 28 this year and the fares include baggage and seat selection.
“We’ve been inundated with guests wanting to book the Federal Government’s half-price fares, so in true Virgin Australia style, we’re giving our loyal customers a taste of what’s to come, with half-price, one-way economy fares on sale from just $55 from 5-7pm today or until sold out,” a Virgin spokesperson said.
“It’s important that we continue to play our part to get Australians travelling so that we can bring more of our people back to work and reboot the tourism economy and our half-price airfare sale is a testament of that.
“There has literally never been a better time to fly and guests will be able to book fares today to popular Australian destinations such as Byron Bay and the Gold Coast for no more than a taxi fare.”
The spokesperson expected the discount tickets would encourage Australians to explore their own backyard to bolster Australia’s economic recovery.
Half-price one-way economy fare highlights:
– Sydney-Byron Bay/Byron Bay-Sydney from $55.
– Sydney-Gold Coast/Gold Coast-Sydney from $55.
– Melbourne-Launceston/Launceston-Melbourne from $64.
– Brisbane-Whitsunday Coast/Whitsunday Coast-Brisbane from $78.
– Melbourne-Gold Coast/Gold Coast-Melbourne from $88.
– Adelaide-Sydney/Sydney-Adelaide from $102.
– Melbourne-Canberra/Canberra-Melbourne from $111.
– Melbourne-Perth/Perth-Melbourne from $146.
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Wednesday: The Gold Coast will today headline a $1.2 billion federal government tourism and aviation package designed to encourage travellers to return to the skies.
More than 800,000 half-price tickets will be on offer between April 1 and July 31 for domestic fares between capital cities and 13 tourism regions hit by COVID.
The Bulletin understands the half-price tickets will be available for Gold Coast flights to and from Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and Avalon near Geelong.
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Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the package, to be announced on Thursday, would play a critical role in reviving the economy.
“This is our ticket to recovery — 800,000 half-price airfares to get Australians travelling and supporting tourism operators, businesses, travel agents and airlines who continue to do it tough through COVID-19, while our international borders remain closed,” he said.
“This package will take more tourists to our hotels and cafes, taking tours and exploring our backyard and that means more jobs and investment for the tourism and aviation sectors as
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“Our tourism businesses don’t want to rely on government support forever. They want their tourists back.
“This package, combined with our vaccine rollout which is gathering pace, is part of our national economic recovery plan and the bridge that will help get them back to normal trading.”
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Key sections of the package include:
● An expansion of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) recovery loan scheme from the current 50/50 split between the government and the banks to an 80/20 split to encourage more banks to invest in small businesses. The scheme will also increase the size of eligible loans from $1 million to $5 million.
● New support for international aviation to help Australia’s two international passenger airlines maintain more than 8000 core international aviation jobs.
● Support for regular passenger airports to meet domestic security screening costs.
● A new aviation services assistance support program to help ground-handling companies meet the costs of mandatory training, certification and accreditation to ensure they maintain their workforces so they can stand them back up when the market expands again.
● Reintroduction of domestic aviation security screening cost rebates for more than 50 regular passenger airports.
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The Gold Coast’s $6 billion tourism industry has shrunk by two-thirds thanks to the pandemic. At its worst, Gold Coast Airport traffic fell by 99 per cent.
While the city has bounced back since borders began to reopen, close and then reopen, airport patron numbers remain far below pre-COVID levels.
Moncrieff MP Angie Bell MP said the package came after a difficult year for Gold Coast tourism businesses.
“The Morrison government is backing Gold Coast tourism businesses by getting tourists back on planes with tickets discounted 50 per cent and back through the doors of tourism operators,” she said.
McPherson MP Karen Andrews said tourism operators were desperate for tourists to return and “I’m confident these incentives will go a long way in encouraging our interstate neighbours to come and experience all we have to offer”.
REX TO LAUNCH ROUTES FROM COAST
BOUTIQUE regional airline Rex will launch its first two Gold Coast routes within a month in a move tourism bosses have declared a “vote of confidence” in the city.
Rex Airlines will on Monday announce it will begin flying direct from Gold Coast to Melbourne and Gold Coast to Sydney from March 29, in time for the busy Easter season.
The two new daily return services are among the first of Rex’s nationwide expansion to major cities.
Its Boeing 737-800 jets – with capacity for 176 passengers – will touch down on the Gold Coast twice from Sydney and twice from Melbourne daily. It adds up to almost 5000 new Coast inbound passengers per week.
Queensland Airports CEO Chris Mills said the new routes would deliver a major boost for the city.
“This is a vote of confidence in the Gold Coast. People want to travel again, and the Gold Coast is at the top of their wish list and clearly Rex sees the opportunity this presents,” he said.
“These new services give customers even more choice on the Gold Coast’s two busiest routes.”
Rex has previously primarily focused purely on the regional market, with ports including Townsville, Mount Isa and Longreach.
Its expansion comes nearly a year after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the virtual shutdown of the international and domestic aviation industry.
Gold Coast Airport’s traffic plummeted by 99 per cent as a result of both border closures and Virgin going into administration before its sale.
Data released in January revealed that traveller numbers in the week before Christmas were nearly 70 per cent below pre-COVID levels.
Rex was also hit by the shutdowns but survived on the back of more than $62 million in government grants.
Rex deputy chairman John Sharp said the airline was keen to work with Queensland Airports to expand its reach.
Gold Coast tourism bosses are now looking to the new routes as a fresh start for the city.
Launch fares will be just $69 for the Sydney route, while a Melbourne flight will cost $79.
The new flights were secured in a deal between Rex, Queensland Airports, the Gold Coast City Council and Destination Gold Coast.
New Destination Gold Coast CEO Patricia O’Callaghan said the flights would boost visitor numbers heading into the traditionally quieter winter months.
“The commencement of services from key interstate visitor markets of Sydney and Melbourne will be critical,” she said.
“The warmth of our Gold Coast winter weather, our hinterland rainforest, beaches, theme parks and quality dining are all major reasons for people down south to head north and our Gold Coast operators are waiting to welcome them with open arms.
“Simply put, the Gold Coast is open for business and we are making it easier for Aussies to holiday in Australia’s favourite playground.”
Mayor Tom Tate welcomed the announcement.
“This is fantastic news at a time when our city is recovering from the biggest economic challenge in its history,” he said.
Rex’s new flights come just two days after flights resumed between the Gold Coast and Melbourne after the State Government declared the Victorian capital was no longer a COVID hotspot.
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