Jetstar has become the second biggest international carrier at Brisbane as the airport hits 95 per cent of total pre-COVID passengers.
The low-cost carrier is now behind only Qantas as it grew 149 per cent internationally in Brisbane over the past year, thanks to a massive ramp-up in Asia flights and a boost in services to Auckland.
“Queenslanders have embraced Jetstar’s low fares, with all of the new route launches from Brisbane Airport receiving strong support, propelling the airline from BNE’s seventh biggest international carrier to number two,” said Ryan Both, executive general manager of aviation at Brisbane Airport.
Brisbane saw a total of 22.6 million passengers in the 2024 financial year, including 5.6 million international and 17 million domestic passengers – a recovery of 89 per cent and 97 per cent on FY19 levels respectively.
“We know more Queenslanders have been ticking off their bucket lists, but importantly we’re also seeing more international tourists visiting the state, and that’s good news for the state’s tourism regions from the Gold Coast to Tropical North Queensland and the Outback,” said Both.
“We know when Brisbane Airport is busy, Queensland is busy.”
Brisbane now has 32 international destinations, just one shy of its pre-COVID high of 33. Major US carriers American Airlines and Delta Air Lines are planning direct flights to Brisbane this year, joining United, Air Canada and Qantas in trans-Pacific services.
“We are eagerly looking forward to the launch of American Airlines direct from Dallas and Delta from Los Angeles,” said Both.
“By the end of the year there will be five major carriers serving the North American market, providing a historic level of options and competition across the Pacific.”
Jetstar last June revealed a major increase in its international services out of Brisbane, including shifting its Tokyo (Narita) service from the Gold Coast, commencing new direct flights from Brisbane to Osaka and Seoul (Incheon), and upping the frequency of its existing flights to Bali and Auckland.
At the time, Steph Tully, CEO of Jetstar, thanked the Queensland government and Brisbane Airport for their support by way of the state’s Attracting Aviation Investment Fund (AAIF).
“The new partnership with Brisbane Airport has unlocked about half a million new seats between Brisbane and some of the most popular international destinations on our network,” Tully said.
“Jetstar has a strong track record of stimulating travel through great value fares and this major boost to international flying for Queensland will bring thousands more tourists into the sunshine state from Japan, South Korea and across the Tasman.”
Jetstar last month also announced plans to launch Brisbane-Bangkok flights by the end of the year.
