Jetstar expands Avalon network with new Adelaide and Hobart flights

Jetstar will add flights from Avalon to Hobart and Adelaide from March 2016 as part of its commitment to increase flying from Melbourne’s second airport.

The low-cost carrier will fly four times a week to Hobart and three times a week to Adelaide from Avalon, Jetstar said on Tuesday.

Starting new routes from Avalon, located to Melbourne’s west near Geelong, was a condition of the 10-year contract Jetstar signed with the state government and airport owners Linfox in April. Under the deal, the Victorian government is contributing $12 million while Linfox will tip in $14 million to keep Jetstar flying to the airport.

Currently, Jetstar flies to two destinations from Avalon – a daily flight to the Gold Coast, which took off in October, and to Sydney several times a day.

“The launch of these new routes fulfils Jetstar’s commitment to offer more destinations and flights from Avalon as part of its 10-year agreement with the Victorian Government and airport owners Linfox Group,” Jetstar said.

Jetstar said it would will have about 900,000 seats a year into and out of Avalon once the Hobart and Adelaide services commence in late March just before the Easter break.

“In less than a year we will have expanded from a single route to Sydney to offer local travellers direct flights to four major Australian cities,” Jetstar Australia and New Zealand chief executive David Hall said in a statement.

“Adelaide and Hobart offer some of the country’s best tourism experiences and we’re confident the convenient mid-morning departures will appeal to travellers from Geelong and western Melbourne.”

Victorian Minister for Tourism and Major Events John Eren said the extra Jetstar flights would support local jobs and boost tourism.