Gold Coast tourism lands a $45m money spinner with return of budget carrier
AirAsia X will restart direct flights to the Gold Coast early next year, generating more than $45 million for the local economy after more than two and a half years away.
Flights will take off again on February 16, starting with three return services a week, as part of the airline’s expansion across Australia and surging international and domestic travel demand.
The number of flights is expected to jump to five a week by the end of the year for the route that was the low-cost airline’s first in Australia.
It’s the airline’s fourth destination nationally under a rapid expansion of its network in Australia after it slashed routes and was almost wiped out during Covid.
AirAsia X has already begun flights to Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.
AirAsia X CEO Benyamin Ismail said the demand for the route to return to the “gem of Queensland” was overwhelming.
“We are thrilled to be coming back to the stunning Gold Coast as the first and only low-cost carrier flying direct,” he said.
He said the new route to Kuala Lumpur could connect travellers to 130 more destinations across Asia.
Queensland Airports CEO Amelia Evans said the return of AirAsia X followed the launch of the Gold Coast’s major terminal upgrade.
“Since AirAsia X last landed at Gold Coast Airport, we’ve opened our brand-new international terminal and we look forward to welcoming the AirAsia X team and passengers back, this time through our impressive new building,” Evans said.
“Since its maiden flight, more than two million passengers have flown with AirAsia X between the Gold Coast and Kuala Lumpur, a connection that in 2019 was worth more than $200 million to the local and state economy.”
The Air Asia X announcement comes after Qantas also restarted a key route from Brisbane to Haneda.
China Airlines will also be increasing its existing Taipei to Brisbane service from three times a week to five from January.
Queensland Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the State Government was spending $200m to attract new routes with Queensland’s four international airports.
“The return of AirAsia X to Gold Coast Airport’s arrivals board is a terrific investment in Gold Coast tours, and jobs,” Hinchliffe said.
“International aviation is highly competitive but absolutely critical to rebuilding Queensland’s post-Covid overseas visitor economy and that’s why we’re backing AirAsia X on the Gold Coast.”
