The airline will offer twice-daily return service on the route following the New South Wales government’s announcement last week that borders will reopen to Victoria. Jetstar suspended service between Avalon and Sydney nearly nine months ago.
On Tuesday (November 10, 2020), Jetstar announced that they will resume service between Avalon and Sydney for the first time since March 21, 2020. The carrier will offer twice-daily return flights starting December 18, 2020, following last week’s announcement that the NSW government will reopen borders to Victoria. Jetstar will operate around 40 percent of the frequencies on the Sydney-Avalon route compared to the same period last year and will monitor the easing of restrictions between Victoria and other states, for additional flights from Avalon. The airline will contact guests with existing bookings between Avalon and Sydney prior to December 18th with a range of options. Customers with existing bookings to Gold Coast and Adelaide will also be contacted with alternatives as the borders have not yet opened to Victoria. In Tuesday’s announcement, Jetstar CEO, Gareth Evans, said,
“We’re excited to bring back low fares to Avalon, helping to reconnect family and friends and give more people the opportunity for a holiday after what has been a tough period for many. We’ve seen huge demand for flights between Victoria and New South Wales since last week’s announcement, so we expect travellers will be quick to take advantage of our low fares out of Avalon. As well as providing a direct link to Sydney, the resumption of services will help boost tourism back into Victoria, with Avalon being the gateway to the state’s famous Great Ocean Road. This is an exciting milestone in rebuilding our network - providing more low fares to more people and also getting more of our team back in work.”
Since last May, Jetstar has been operating their ‘Fly Well’ program which encompasses a range of health and safety measures to ensure the wellbeing of their guests and team members. The program includes Fly Well packs which consist of masks and sanitizing wipes, enhanced cleaning, contactless check-in, and mandatory masks on flights. Additionally, all Jetstar aircraft are equipped with HEPA filters that remove 99.9% of airborne particulates, including viruses as the cabin air is refreshed every 2-3 minutes. The governments of Australia and New Zealand have also instituted health and safety protocols, including health declaration forms and other checks.
Source: Jetstar