Qantas continues to boost its domestic network with the launch of daily non-stop flights between Melbourne and the Gold Coast from October 25.
Served by Boeing 737 aircraft with both business class and economy, the new route builds on the airline’s existing Sydney-Gold Coast flights and takes on flight numbers QF880 from Melbourne and QF881 on the return.
Flight timings vary throughout the week, although business class passengers, Qantas Club members and frequent flyers with Gold status or above will be able to unwind at the Gold Coast Qantas Club before their flight to Melbourne.
Review, photos: Qantas Club, Gold Coast Airport
Qantas will also bolster its Sydney-Gold Coast flights with the introduction of an additional daily service from February next year, and will kick off Sydney-Sunshine Coast flights in December.
“These new services help us meet the growing demand for premium leisure services between Sydney and Maroochydore and Melbourne and the Gold Coast,” said Qantas Domestic CEO Andrew David.
Gold Coast flights will go on sale on Wednesday July 22 with initial promotional fares of $99 for a one-way journey in economy, with Sydney’s Sunshine coast services also up for grabs from just $89.
Qantas previously handed over all of its Gold Coast routes to low-cost sibling Jetstar in 2007, much to the chagrin of business travellers, but restarted red-tail flights between Sydney and the Gold Coast in late 2012.
Follow Australian Business Traveller on Twitter: we're @AusBT
Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
23 Aug 2014
Total posts 10
This has definitely been the number one route that it's surprised me that Qantas domestic hasn't returned to, so good to hear! One a day seems a bit tepid, but I guess it'll grow over time.
12 Jun 2013
Total posts 732
Nice to see Qantas metal returning to routes which they once wrote off as Jetstar-only.
Fingers crossed for a price war on the MEL-OOL route, because I could use a nice warm weekend break. (Wait, is it still snowing on the Gold Coast?)
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
22 Jul 2015
Total posts 14
The article about this change in The Age says they will be using 717 aircraft while you say it's a 737, which one is correct? I presume The Age screwed up :)
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
22 Jul 2015
Total posts 14
Actually scratch that. I misread that part of the article. The 717 are for the route to Maroochydore. I thought it strange to use a 717 for MEL-OOL.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer Platinum
07 Feb 2013
Total posts 548
Meh still insufficient for us business travellers, I'll stick with being able to go to sydney hourly and melbourne 3 X daily with virgin. No chance of a price war with such incomparable flight frequencies.
American Airlines - AAdvantage
13 Jul 2015
Total posts 276
Feel free to take Jet if price is an issue :)
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
11 Aug 2014
Total posts 51
Now if they could relaunch a Cairns - Perth service while they're at it...
Somebody had to mention Perth in the comments.
Thai Airways International - Royal Orchid Plus
15 Jan 2013
Total posts 458
About time.Although all my own Travel in Australia domestically is mostly Virgin This is most welcome news.I just hope most Australians have the sense to look at options like Queensland over the Bali and Thailand choices they have been so used to for years.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Mar 2014
Total posts 38
Fantastic news! Glad to see MEL-OOL and SYD-MCY returning on QF. Have a friend on the Sunshine Coast who travels regularly to Sydney on business who will make good use of this as due to current timings on MCY-SYD has to fly from BNE
17 Jun 2014
Total posts 43
Could this be all the flight data from status credit runners from mel-syd-ool showing massive demand for the route! ;)
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
26 Nov 2012
Total posts 125
Some sanity at last from QF. Love it, just PLEASE extend the OOL lounge
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
21 Mar 2013
Total posts 132
I wonder if this is a result of the new Avalon-Goldy flights, so the group still maintains frequency for those needing connections through Tulla.
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on Qantas to start Melbourne-Gold Coast flights from October