Last week, Jetstar celebrated the one-year anniversary of Australia’s first direct commercial service between Melbourne and the popular Western Australian “Margs” region – Busselton Margaret River, in the state’s south-west.
Since its launch, more than 50,000 customers have travelled on the route, with many connecting to the service from across Australia and New Zealand to explore Australia’s favourite surfing and wine growing region.
The Aussie airline offers a thrice weekly Airbus A320 service has helped to further support and grow tourism in the South West, with customers on average spending between five and seven days in the region.
From city to surf and back
The surf to city flights have also been a gamechanger for South West locals, saving them at least two and a half hours’ drive time to Perth to fly to the east coast.
With travel demand booming over the Easter school holidays, last week’s anniversary flight became one of three additional services that have been added by the carrier to support the increased demand.
Jetstar Group CEO, Stephanie Tully, saidthe Margaret River region’s reputation for premium wine, stunning coastlines and unique experiences has fuelled demand.
“We’re incredibly excited to celebrate this important milestone for our direct service between Melbourne and Busselton Margaret River, which has carried more than 50,000 customers in its first year,” Ms Tully said.
“The launch of this service was highly anticipated after two years of COVID border restrictions and it’s been great to see locals and tourists from around Australia and New Zealand embracing our great value low fares,”
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“We thank the Western Australian Government and the City of Busselton for their ongoing support of the service and in doing so boosting tourism in the region.”
City of Busselton Mayor, Grant Henley, said the direct service from Melbourne has made the region more accessible.
“It is extremely important that we have consistent, reliable and frequent flights between Busselton and Melbourne and Jetstar is offering exactly that,” Mr Henley said.
“As a regional capital, we are cementing ourselves as a destination of choice and we need to have options for people to fly in and out of the South West region.”
Western Australian Tourism Minister, Roger Cook, said the popularity of the route came as no surprise.
“This has been a fantastic initiative for tourists wanting to explore the magnificent South West and locals visiting Melbourne,” Mr Cook said.
“We want to make travel easier and simpler in WA so I congratulate Jetstar for providing this service,” he said; “I’m not surprised it has been so popular.”
About “Margs”
A popular West Coast of the surfing fraternity, the iconic Margaret River region is a popular tourist destination located in the southwest corner of Western Australia, about 3 hours’ drive from Perth.
It is known for its stunning natural scenery, world-class wineries, surfing beaches, and outdoor activities.
Some of the top attractions in the region include:
- Wine Tours: The Margaret River region is home to over 100 wineries, many of which offer tours and tastings. Visitors can explore the vineyards, learn about the winemaking process, and sample some of the best wines Australia has to offer.
- Surfing: The region’s coastline is famous for its world-class surfing beaches, including Yallingup, Margaret River Main Break, and Surfers Point. Surfing lessons and equipment rental are available for all skill levels.
- Caves: There are several caves in the region that are open to the public, including Mammoth Cave, Lake Cave, and Jewel Cave. These caves offer a glimpse into the region’s unique geological formations and ancient history.
- Outdoor Activities: The Margaret River region offers a range of outdoor activities, including hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, and whale watching. The Cape to Cape Track, a 135 km walking trail that runs along the coastline, is a popular choice for hikers.
- Gourmet Food: The region is also known for its gourmet food, with many restaurants and cafes offering fresh local produce, seafood, and artisanal products.
With the vast distances encountered in the state of Western Australia, JetStar’s direct service into the region is proving to be something of a windfall for travellers.
