Sydney, Victoria flights into Gold Coast soar despite border closure

One of Australia’s biggest airlines is scheduling a “huge” number of interstate flights into the Gold Coast. What's the Premier not telling us?

WHAT does one of Australia’s biggest airlines know about the Queensland border reopening that we don’t?

Virgin Australia has ramped up its three flights a week to nine flights a day into the Gold Coast from July 13 from Sydney, with flights out of Victoria also jumping.

That is one day after stage three of the Palaszczuk government’s roadmap is due to take effect on July 12, when restrictions are expected to be further relaxed and a reopening of the border could take place.

There are more than a dozen interstate flights a day coming and going from the Gold Coast Airport from July 13. Picture: Supplied.

Burleigh MP Michael Hart certainly believes so – he was searching for flights North Queensland last night when he noticed a “huge” amount of flights coming and going from the Gold Coast.

“I thought I would check to see how many flights were coming into the Gold Coast,” he told the Bulletin this morning.

“(Up to) the 12 of July there are three flights a week, which are the ones funded by the federal government program. From July 13, there are nine flights from Sydney. And about three or four from Melbourne as well.

“I think (Virgin) knows something we don’t know. That’s my concern.”

The Premier has said she is keeping the border closed because of health advice. She said she would review the health advice at the end of the month but has been under immense pressure from the tourism and small business sector on the Gold Coast to bring that date forward.

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Michael Hart MP. Picture Glenn Hampson

Mr Hart added: “Virgin are putting on a huge number of flights from July 13.

“Maybe (the airline) is making a commercial decision but what happens to people who have booked on those dates if the borders don’t open? They must know something.

“I think the Premier has a lot of questions to answer too. Why is she not telling the people of Queensland the borders are going to be open, when it appears one of the biggest airlines thinks they will be?

“There’s 120 people on every flight - that’s over 1000 people a day which could be booked to come from Sydney to the Gold Coast.

“And with another four from Melbourne - you have 1500 people a day who may have booked flights because it’s available.”

Queensland Airports Limited CEO Chris Mills told the Bulletin this morning: “With ongoing uncertainty about the border opening, the airlines have to do their best to plan for when flights will resume, and set their proposed schedules accordingly.

“This reinforces that all airlines are keen to resume flights to the Gold Coast.

“It continues to be the number one potential destination for the southern states seeking a break.

“This is why, if the border is to be opened in July, we are asking for a date to be announced now.

“The airlines need certainty, and sufficient lead time to prepare to resume operations, and potential visitors need time to plan and book a Gold Coast holiday.

“Every day that goes by means flight schedules get pushed back, people book holidays elsewhere, and the Queensland economy takes longer to recover.

“It looks increasingly likely that we will miss out on the once-only opportunity for the school holiday uplift.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. MP Michael Hart says she “has a lot of answer to”. Picture: Jerad Williams

“Have they rostered people on at the airport? Have they got cabs going there again? Are buses going there? How far in advance is all this happening?”

Ms Palaszczuk said again during a press conference this morning she would review the Queensland border block at the end of the month.

“What we have seen is that the airlines are putting on more flights which is wonderful news,” she said.

“June is Queensland open for Queenslanders.

“July will definitely see more of Queensland opening up. We will see more people in restaurants (and) cafes, and more people in activities and at stadiums.

“July will be a very good month for Queenslanders if our health response continues.”

Tourism Minister Kate Jones added: “As a government we have continued to work with all airlines interested in flying to Queensland.

“The reason why we have been able to have these discussions is because our government has provided more funding to attract airlines to Queensland than any government in the history of the state.

“We will continue to meet with airlines over the coming week as we reopen Queensland.”

Premier Palaszczuk closed Queensland’s borders on April 3 to halt the coronavirus pandemic.

Ms Palaszczuk said it would be “highly unlikely” the state will be open before July whilst Queensland’s chief medical officer Dr Jeanette Young dubbed September “more realistic”.

The border closure has caused outrage among Gold Coast businesses who heavily rely on tourism. Activity operators, restaurant owners and a tower manager accused Mayor Tom Tate of leaving them “high and dry” for backing Ms Palaszczuk’s border block.

He has since said he is being given a “fresh” briefing by Ms Palaszczuk today.