NEW FLIGHTS CONNECT SURF AND SNOW

THE Gold Coast Airport is now offering the first of two new Jetstar services between the Gold Coast and New Zealand.

Holiday makers are now able to take advantage of direct flights from Gold Coast to Wellington - the first time in over 10 years that a new airline has launched year-round international services from Wellington and the first time in over five years an airline has offered Wellington to Gold Coast flights.

In addition, direct Gold Coast to Queenstown flights are now in operation.

Gold Coast Airport Chief Operating Officer David Collins says Jetstar and Gold Coast Airport management have been working for some time to bring the 'surf to the snow'.

"This is Jetstar's first international service from Wellington, so it really is great news and a huge win for the Gold Coast and Northern New South Wales," he says.

"Our New Zealand friends love coming to Australia, especially the Gold Coast and Northern New South Wales regions, in search of sun and surf.

"Conversely, we also know there is a high population of New Zealanders living on the Gold Coast, many of whom have family back home in NZ.

"We know the demand is there for both services and with the New Zealand currency close to parity with the Australian dollar, we are confident the Gold Coast will prove to be an attractive destination for Kiwis this summer."

These services equate to over 112,000 additional seats per year into and out of Gold Coast Airport.

Jetstar operates Auckland and Christchurch services from Gold Coast Airport and it is on the back of the success of these services that Jetstar have commenced the Queenstown and Wellington services.

These new services will operate 3 times per week to both Wellington (Friday, Sunday, Wednesday) and Queenstown (Saturday, Monday, Thursday), operated by an A320 aircraft.

Picture (L-R) - David Collins (Chief Operating Officer Gold Coast Airport) and Nigel Fanning (Jetstar Head of Commercial Australia and New Zealand).