Hobart-Gold Coast flights launched

QUEENSLAND is about to get a big dose of Tassie love, with a new marketing campaign and direct flights to attract their tourist dollar.

Tigerair Australia announced yesterday it would offer direct flights between Hobart and the Gold Coast during peak travel periods from December 7, with an opening special of $10 flights.

Tigerair will operate four weekly return flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.

The airline will also add four return services to the existing Hobart-Melbourne route to meet growing demand.

The new flights will broaden Tasmanians’ travel options, after Jetstar last month revealed direct flights from Hobart to Adelaide would begin in November.

Tourism Tasmania chief executive John Fitzgerald said non-stop flights from Hobart to the Gold Coast was “a great announcement”.

“The Queensland market is our third-biggest market, importantly it’s growing, we’re investing there, we’ve got a $1.5 million spring campaign on the market at the moment, we’ll add to that with this Tiger announcement today,” Mr Fitzgerald said.

“I think Tassie is high on Queenslanders’ bucket lists, they really love the great food and wine, the culture, the big outdoors that we offer, and it’s never been easier to get here.”

Premier Will Hodgman also welcomed yesterday’s announcement, saying the new flights were “another exciting chapter in Tasmania’s booming visitor economy story.”

“We will work very closely with the airline to make sure that our marketing is complementary, well-targeted, and make this another successful part of Tasmania’s great tourism industry,” he said.

Tigerair Australia acting chief executive Peter Wilson was confident the route would be a success.