Virgin seeks new path from the Gold Coast to Bali

An Australian airline has lodged an application to bring back direct flights from that Gold Coast to Perth, connecting the city to a popular holiday destination.

In December, Virgin Australia applied for more capacity to Bali in a detailed letter to the International Air Services Commission (IASC).

The additional capacity would mean the airline could restart services from the Gold Coast to Perth, and onwards to Bali, in late-2024. The application was sent by Virgin Australia’s general manager Todd Reynolds on December 12, which also included additional flights from Adelaide to Bali, via Perth. On January 8, Virgin Australia said the only way for the airline to reinstate the direct route to Perth was with the “support of Indonesia through-traffic”.

“The traffic rights necessary for the Gold Coast to Bali, via Perth, one-stop route would also allow Virgin Australia to become a new competitor on the Gold Coast to Perth route, which Virgin Australia operated periodically in select seasons before Covid-19,” he said.

The airline was confident the new route would be successful after they introduced direct flights from Gold Coast to Bali in March last year.

More than 2200 customers use the route each week during peak times and more than 90,000 customers annually.

“This service offers a direct, convenient, and cost-effective option for travellers heading to Bali,” he said.

On February 6, Virgin Australia signed a new agreement with airport operator Queensland Airports Limited (QAL) for the next decade.

QAL CEO Amelia Evans said the 10year agreement represented the partnership that first launched flights between Sydney and the Gold Coast in 2001. More than 36 million passengers had flown with Virgin Australia through Gold Coast airport since.

“As an airport, our purpose is to connect people, places and communities and our partnership with Virgin Australia is an important part of delivering that for the Gold Coast and Northern NSW regions,” Ms Evans said.

“Gold Coast Airport now welcomes almost 50 flights a day operated by Virgin Australia and we look forward to building on these connections even further through our new 10-year agreement,” she said.

Virgin Australia CEO Jayne Hrdlicka said the Coast was one of their most popular destinations for leisure travel.