Jetstar’s first flight from Gold Coast to Canberra is set to take off today, welcoming more than 180 passengers on board the sold-out inaugural service departing Coolangatta at 12.55pm.

In a media statement, Jetstar Airways said there will be four weekly return flights operated by an Airbus A320 aircraft. Flights will operate on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, departing the Gold Coast at 12.55pm, and departing Canberra at 3.10pm.

The new route is starting just in time for Queensland and ACT’s spring school holidays, with thousands of people already booked to fly between Canberra and Gold Coast during this peak period, Jetstar advised.

Fares between the two cities are available from $115 one way online.

Jetstar said the new route is expected to carry up to 70,000 travellers each year between the two cities and follows the budget airline’s recent launch of new services linking the ACT with Melbourne and Brisbane. The airline advised demand for both of these routes remained strong.

“Thanks to the support of the ACT Government these new routes are helping bring more low fares options to Canberra travellers,” the statement said.

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