Virgin Australia launches sale on flights to Queensland as borders reopen

As Queensland unlocks its border to most Aussies today, Virgin Australia announced it was heavily slashing fares on flights to the Sunshine State.

Virgin Australia is selling flights to Queensland for as little as $85 in a sale that marks the Sunshine State reopening its borders to interstate travellers.

From midday today, all travellers from all states and territories – except Victoria – will be able to visit Queensland when the state eases some of Australia’s toughest border restrictions.

To mark the occasion, from now, Virgin Australia is selling half a million Queensland fares at dramatically reduced prices, including flights to key destinations such as the Gold Coast, Cairns and Hamilton Island.

Queensland will finally reopen its borders to most interstate travellers on July 10. Picture: iStock

The sale is on flights between August 5 and March 31, and to reassure customers who may feel a little unsure about booking during uncertain times, Virgin Australia will waive change fees for departure dates before September 30.

And you can feel free to load up that suitcase because sale fares include 23kg baggage allowance for economy class bookings.

Fares include:

• Sydney to Gold Coast from $85

• Sydney to Brisbane from $89

• Brisbane to Newcastle from $89

• Brisbane to Whitsunday Coast from $89

• Brisbane to Sydney from $99

• Brisbane to Hamilton Island from $115

• Adelaide to Gold Coast from $129

• Sydney to Cairns from $139

• Perth to Brisbane from $199

It’s a good excuse to revisit some of Australia’s most beloved holiday spots, like Hamilton Island. Picture: Hamilton Island Tourism

Queensland will welcome back non-essential interstate travellers today after it locked down its border during the peak of Australia’s COVID-19 outbreak.

Travellers from Victoria are indefinitely banned from entering Queensland due to the southern state’s worsening virus outbreak.

Virgin Australia’s chief commercial officer John Macleod said the airline was happy to support tourism and local businesses in Queensland, with most interstate travellers finally able to return to the top holiday spot.

“Queensland is a very important market to Virgin Australia and we’re delighted to be able to fly travellers back to the Sunshine State,” he said.

Virgin’s sale announcement coincides with Queensland opening its borders to interstate travellers. Picture: Saeed Khan/AFP

“Virgin Australia transports millions of travellers each and every year to holiday amongst Queensland’s beautiful beaches, vast landscapes and tropical weather, and our Good to Go sale will help to reboot the Queensland tourism industry.

“With fares from as low as $85 including baggage, we hope the sale gets travellers on the holidays they’ve been dreaming about or to reunite them with their family and friends.”

The “Good to Go” sale, running in partnership with Tourism Events Queensland, is on now and last until midnight AEST on Tuesday, July 14.

Fares are available for select travel dates and destinations between August 5, 2020 and March 31, 2021. Change fees will be waived for departure dates prior to September 30, 2020.