Hobart now hour closer

New flights between Tassie and Gold Coast to boost two-way tourism

THE southernmost State in Australia is set to get a whole lot closer to the Gold Coast from December.

Tigerair Australia will launch up to four weekly return services between Hobart and Gold Coast on December 7 – just in time for the peak summer holiday season.

The two-hours and 40 minute direct flights will slice at least an hour off travel times

for commuters between Hobart and the Coast.

Added to meet extra demand, the new route between Hobart Airport and Gold Coast Airport will be the only direct, low-cost travel option between the two popular tourist destinations. Currently, people travelling between the Coast and Hobart have to go through Melbourne or Sydney to catch a connecting flight.

Tourism and Major Events Minister Kate Jones said 45,000 Tasmanians visited the Coast in the past year – an increase of seven per cent on the previous year.

The Hobart service means passengers now have a direct connection to the Gold Coast from every southern capital city in Australia.

The new flights, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, will depart Hobart at 8.50am (AEDT) and arrive at Coolangatta at 10.20am. The return service will depart the Coast at 10.50am, arriving into Hobart at 2.30pm (AEDT).

Tigerair Australia acting CEO Peter Wilson said the service would offer faster, cheaper access to both cities for tourist, budget and leisure travellers.

“These new flights launching in December provide a welcome boost for tourism in both cities, covering the upcoming peak summer holiday travel period and the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in April,” he said.

The Coast is considered a key part of Tigerair’s network, with the company eager to showcase the city as it seeks to capitalise on the busy Commonwealth Games period.

Tigerair offered heavily discounted fares between the two cities for as little as $10 each way in an online sale yesterday to celebrate the new route.

Gold Coast Airport CEO Chris Mills said the Hobart service would boost the Coast’s connectivity to what was a growing tourist hotspot.

“It is great to see Tigerair strengthen its commitment to the Gold Coast and we look forward to welcoming Tasmanians here for some surf, sand and sun this summer,” he said.