Jetstar will initiate direct services between Bangkok and Brisbane three times a week starting from December 13, marking the first direct air connection between Queensland and Thailand since the pandemic-induced disruptions.
With an aim to reintroduce the air link between the two destinations, this new route is projected to bring in over 190,000 additional inbound seats to Queensland over a three-year span. These efforts are expected to generate significant economic benefits, including an estimated A$116 million in overnight visitor expenditure and the creation of up to 630 job opportunities, as outlined by the Queensland Department of Tourism and Sport.
The Attracting Aviation Investment Fund, amounting to A$200 million, has played a crucial role in supporting this route, securing a total of 32 new or resuming aviation services for Queensland since February 2022.
In response to the gap left by the cessation of Thai Airways International’s Brisbane flights in March 2020, this initiative by Jetstar will establish the sole non-stop service between Bangkok and Brisbane. The new flight path, facilitated by the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, will greatly reduce travel time, with each journey lasting just over eight hours, approximately half the duration compared to indirect routes.
Additionally, the flights will unveil opportunities for Queensland exporters by offering up to 15 tonnes of freight capacity per flight, enabling the transportation of goods such as meat, fish, fruits, and vegetables to overseas markets.
Michael Healy, Queensland’s minister for tourism and sport, highlighted the significance of this new route in light of recent record levels of visitors from Thailand to Queensland post-Covid. He emphasized the role of Jetstar as a low-cost carrier in making travel more accessible for diverse international passengers, including students and travelers from Asia, the UK, and Europe utilizing Bangkok as a connecting hub.
The scheduled flights will operate from Brisbane on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday at 2:20 pm, with return flights from Bangkok on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday departing at 8:25 am, commencing on December 13.
