Three weekly return services provide 56,000 additional visitor seats annually through Sydney and Whitsunday Coast Airport.
Tigerair Australia officially launches its new services between Sydney and Whitsunday Coast Airport, in the process creating the only direct air service between the two destinations.
The three weekly return flights will deliver Sydneysiders to the Whitsundays’ doorstep every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, providing 56,000 additional visitor seats annually through Whitsunday Coast Airport. It’s estimated that this will provide a conservative economic value to the region by way of inbound passenger spend in excess of $6M per annum and potential further growth and job development through the multiplier effect.
The welcome news for the Queensland tourism industry closely follows the launch of Tigerair’s Brisbane base, which opened on 11 March 2014, providing 800,000 additional visitor seats annually through the sunshine state from mid-April and creating 200 associated jobs (around 10 new jobs created at Whitsunday Coast Airport and over 130 jobs in Queensland).
To celebrate the new route, the airline is putting on a special launch day sale with fares for the new services between Sydney and Whitsunday Coast Airport available from just $99.95* for two people travelling. The sale which commences at midday (AEDST) is on for 24 hours only and seats are limited.
Tigerair Australia CEO Rob Sharp said “We have witnessed overwhelming demand from both leisure and budget travellers wanting to gain easy access to Airlie Beach and surrounding areas and today’s Sydney – Whitsunday Coast route launch is in direct response to consumer demand.”
“As the only direct air service between Sydney and Whitsunday Coast, this is a coup for leisure and budget travellers and the all-important backpacker market. Our fares have been proven to stimulate markets and we look forward to working with the Whitsundays regional council and community to provide a much needed boost to local tourism. We’re confident local residents will welcome the direct flights to Sydney as well.”
Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games, Jann Stuckey welcomed the budget airline to Whitsunday Coast just three weeks after opening its new Brisbane base.
“This new route combined with the recent opening of Tigerair’s base of operations in Brisbane is a vote of confidence in our election commitment to grow tourism as one of the four pillars of the Queensland economy,” the Minister said.
“The Newman Government has been working hard to maximise visitor numbers to the state and achieve our goal of doubling annual overnight visitor expenditure from $15 billion in 2010 to $30 billion by 2020.”
Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Cr Jennifer Whitney was on the inaugural flight and said that the Council has worked in partnership with Tigerair to secure this new direct route from Sydney, into Whitsunday Coast Airport.
“The Whitsunday region has been crying out for direct flights from major cities other than Brisbane and the opening up of the Sydney route is the beginning of an exciting future for the Whitsunday Coast Airport,” she said.
“The economic boost to the Whitsunday region from this new direct flight will be huge. I know local hotel and tourism operators are very happy that this direct flight is opening up the Whitsunday region to the Sydney market.”
“Along with the added tourism benefit for the region, I know many locals will also be very pleased they can now fly directly to Sydney from the Whitsunday Coast Airport,” she said.
Sydney Airport Chief Executive Officer, Kerrie Mather, said “This new Tigerair service is great news for Sydneysiders, who now have a direct service from Sydney to the Whitsunday Coast. We’re pleased that Tigerair is providing this new service to meet growing demand.” To further celebrate Tigerair’s new direct route between Sydney and Whitsunday Coast Airport, the airline has teamed up with Whitsundays Tourism to offer Sydney-siders the chance to win one of 10 double holiday packages.
From 6:30 am on Tuesday 1 April, Sydney commuters can drop by the Whitsundays’ beach shack in Wynyard Park, enjoy a complimentary mango juice crushie and enter the holiday giveaway competition, which includes return airfares with Tigerair, destination transit and two night’s accommodation at Airlie Beach Hotel for two people.
To be in to win, entrants will need to complete a competition form at the Whitsundays beach shack and answer two questions.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
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