Jetstar will keep its three-times-weekly Sunshine Coast–Cairns flights running through to October after picking up the route from Bonza in December 2024. The extended season includes a short pause over February and early March and resumes 30 March 2027.
Jetstar’s Sunshine Coast–Cairns service, operating three times weekly, will continue through to October and adds over 34,000 seats.
Flights will pause briefly in February and early March, then resume on 30 March 2027.
Sunshine Coast Airport and Jetstar cite steady demand in both directions and the value of a direct link between two Queensland tourism markets.
# What happened Jetstar has extended its seasonal Sunshine Coast–Cairns service through to October. The carrier picked up the route in December 2024 after Bonza previously operated it. Jetstar currently flies the sector three times per week and says the demand has been steady in both directions. The extension will add more than 34,000 seats to the route.
# Schedule and capacity
# Why Jetstar extended the route Jetstar described Queensland as central to its network and pointed to demand on the Sunshine Coast–Cairns link. Scott Zeglin, Jetstar's executive manager of commercial planning, said the airline works with both airports to enable affordable travel and to allow customers to visit family or holiday in Queensland on low fares.
Sunshine Coast Airport CEO Chris Mills said the extension provides greater choice for locals and visitors travelling between two leading tourism destinations in Queensland, allowing travellers to spend less time connecting through other airports.
# Background on the route
Earlier this year Jetstar said it would temporarily suspend the route during off-peak periods because of low bookings. At the time the airline reiterated its commitment to an extensive Queensland network and to making air travel affordable for Queenslanders.
# What this means for travellers and the region Travellers get a direct connection between the Sunshine Coast and Tropical North Queensland without routing through larger hubs. That reduces total travel time for holidaymakers and people visiting friends and family. For local tourism, the direct link supports greater connectivity between two significant Queensland markets.
# Practical points for travellers
# Bottom line Jetstar's extension keeps the direct Sunshine Coast–Cairns link active for a longer season, adds substantial seat capacity, and maintains a direct tourism and community connection that Jetstar and Sunshine Coast Airport say has steady demand.
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