Melburnians will soon be able to take a break in one of Western Australia’s top travel destinations, with Jetstar announcing it will commence direct flights to the Margaret River region from early next year.
After the original planned launch in March 2020 was postponed due to border closures, the new flights will take off from Melbourne to Busselton from 1 February, providing more than 1,100 weekly seats on the route.
With three return flights per week, the service is expected to bring more than 60,000 visitors to the Margaret River region over the next three years, contributing more than $40 million to the WA economy in that time.
This follows the Western Australian government’s announcement that its border will reopen to Victoria and New South Wales travellers from today, after being closed for eight months.
Comments from Jetstar Group CEO Gareth Evans:
“After a long period of border closures, we’re pleased to confirm the new start date for the route which will offer the only direct flights linking the east coast to the Margaret River region.
“In recent weeks, we’ve seen firsthand the huge appetite Victorians have for travel after what has been a tough year, and we expect demand for these flights will be strong.
“Margaret River is renowned for its food, natural beauty and surf beaches and offers a great variety of experiences for travellers looking to explore more of Australia in 2021.
“It’s also great news for Western Australian tourism, with the new service predicted to provide a huge boost in visitor numbers at a time when local operators need it most.”
Comments from the City of Busselton Mayor Grant Henley:
“The commencement of Jetstar flights from Melbourne is fantastic news.
“We’re optimistic that with the tight health regimes in place, the service will be extremely popular.
It’s been a long time between holidays for many Australians and I can’t recommend a more beautiful destination than the South West corner of Western Australia.
“We’re ready and eager to welcome inter-state travelers.”
Schedule and lead in fares:
Fares are available on Jetstar.com from $149 (one way).
Flight | Days of operations | Origin | Destination | Departure | Arrival | Duration of flight |
JQ900 | Mondays – Wednesdays – Saturdays | Melbourne to Busselton | 08:05 | 9:10 | 4h05m |
JQ901 | Busselton to Melbourne | 09:45 | 16:15 | 03h30m |
The services are supported through a partnership with the Federal government, the Western Australian government and the City of Busselton.
