Virgin Australia to tap Qld border surge with $59 flights to multiple destinations

Virgin Australia has launched a massive sale as Queensland opens its borders. Here’s how you can cash in on cheap fares.

Virgin Australia is celebrating the easing of Queensland’s borders with flights as low as $59 one-way to a range of destinations across the newly liberated Sunshine State.

In tandem with border restrictions being wound back on Monday, Virgin has announced more than one million seats have been made available to Hamilton Island, Cairns, Townsville, Brisbane, Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast.

The ‘Queensland is Good to Go’ sale runs from Monday to Friday December 17 and covers flights to select destinations from January 1 to June 23.

The cheapest flights in the deal are from Launceston, Hobart and Sydney to the Gold Coast for $59, while passengers can fly from Sydney to the Sunshine Coast for $65, and Melbourne to the Gold Coast for $69. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

“Today is a monumental day for Australians, and we’re delighted to help travellers right across the country reunite with loved ones, friends and family or finally visit that dream Queensland holiday destination over the summer period and into 2022,” Virgin Australia group chief commercial officer Dave Emerson said.

“As a business headquartered in Brisbane, we’re delighted to finally have Queensland open to majority of the country.”

The cheapest flights in the deal are from Launceston, Hobart and Sydney to the Gold Coast for $59, while passengers can fly from Sydney to the Sunshine Coast for $65, and Melbourne to the Gold Coast for $69.

Nearly 90 per cent of new Virgin bookings have been for the December and January period, with the biggest growth in the last week being Sydney to Sunshine Coast, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, and Melbourne and Hobart to the Gold Coast. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Virgin said flight searches on virginaustralia.com increased by almost 120 per cent last Monday, following the border reopening announcement by the Queensland Government earlier that day.

Nearly 90 per cent of new Virgin bookings have been for the December and January period, with the biggest growth in the last week being Sydney to Sunshine Coast, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, and Melbourne and Hobart to the Gold Coast.

Queensland’s borders reopened at 1am on Monday after being closed for nearly 150 days to coronavirus hotspot areas.

About 20 flights are expected at Brisbane Airport on Monday.

Domestic passenger numbers are set to nearly double to 30,000 a day this week.