Wednesday, 18 June 2025: Jetstar has launched its inaugural service between the Gold Coast and Hamilton this morning, marking a further expansion of low fares flying across the Tasman.
JQ163 departed Coolangatta shortly before sunrise, with the new service to operate three times a week, providing a convenient alternative gateway in and out of New Zealand's North Island.
This is the first time that Jetstar has flown between the Gold Coast and Hamilton, offering travellers easy access to popular destinations such as Rotorua, the Bay of Plenty, and the famous Hobbiton movie set.
The addition of this new route will also bring thousands more tourists into the Gold Coast and South East Queensland each year, significantly boosting the visitor economy.
It's the second new trans-Tasman route for Jetstar this week following the launch of Sydney to Hamilton flights on Monday. Next week, the airline will also begin flights from the Gold Coast to Dunedin in NZ's South Island.
Operating aircraft
Flights between the Gold Coast and Hamilton will be operated using a mix of Airbus A320ceo and A320neo aircraft.
The A320neo is the newest in Jetstar's fleet. The aircraft are providing customers with a new level of low-cost comfort, with quieter and more fuel-efficient engines producing lower emissions, 40 per cent larger overhead storage bins, in-seat power sockets, seat back device holders and modern ergonomic seating.
Jetstar's Head of Network, Fleet Strategy and Planning, Ted Knight said two A320neos will be based on the Gold Coast to support the new services, bringing its local fleet to six.
"Our new Gold Coast to Hamilton route will unlock more than 58,000 new low fares seats a year in both directions, providing a huge boost to tourism on both sides of the Tasman, while helping to connect the Gold Coast's large population of Kiwi ex-pats to their home country.
"With the launch of new Gold Coast to Dunedin flights next week, Jetstar will operate a total of six routes from the Gold Coast to New Zealand - the highest number of trans-Tasman routes of any airport on our network.
"This growth is part of Jetstar's broader strategy to enhance connectivity between Australia and New Zealand, providing our customers with more choice and low fares."
Queensland Airports Limited CEO, Amelia Evans said it was exciting to build on strong demand from Kiwis wanting to visit the Gold Coast and northern New South Wales.
"We know New Zealanders have a long-standing love affair with this region. Our current New Zealand services are always very busy, with more than 80 per cent of seats booked on average.
"We've welcomed more than half a million travellers on one of our four existing New Zealand routes in the last 12 months. The Hamilton service will add another connection, further strengthening our Trans-Tasman ties and making it even easier for friends and family to reunite, holiday or explore our region."
Andrew Powell MP, Queensland Minister for the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation said:
"We said we would connect Queensland to the world and this flight does exactly that.
"The return of direct flights between Hamilton and the Gold Coast is a powerful step forward in delivering on our Destination 2045 vision.
"This new route strengthens our ties with New Zealand, where more of our international visitors come from than anywhere else, and opens the door for more Kiwis to experience our world-class events, natural wonders, and vibrant communities.
"As we continue to build on our green and gold runway towards the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, every new connection like this helps us build a stronger, more resilient visitor economy for the decades ahead."
Hamilton Airport Chief Executive, Mark Morgan said the link was a two-way love affair.
"We love welcoming Australian visitors and this lands them right in the middle of some of our most loved visitor attractions. For Kiwis, it's a quick and easy way to get to the Gold Coast, without needing to travel to Auckland. So we all win."
Experience Gold Coast CEO, John Warn said the new route was positive news for the region's tourism economy.
"The return of the Hamilton route is a meaningful one - it reconnects us with one of the Gold Coast's earliest international links and is a powerful reminder of the deep cultural, family and tourism ties we've long shared with New Zealand.
"We're excited to welcome even more visitors from the Waikato region to experience the energy, warmth and world-class offerings of the Gold Coast."
Sale fares
