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Jetstar has officially launched its direct seasonal service between Newcastle and Hobart, connecting the two cities for the first time.
The inaugural flight JQ489 took off from Newcastle just before 4pm on Tuesday aboard Jetstar’s A320-200 VH-VFX, touching down in Hobart around two hours later. Flights will operate three times per week until 21 April 2026, for a total of around 22,000 seats.
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“This is the first time Newcastle and Hobart have ever been connected by air, and we’re thrilled to be making this route a reality,” Lyle Brownscombe, executive manager commercial at Jetstar, said.
“Hunter residents can now reach Tasmania’s wilderness, food and wine experiences without the hassle of connecting through other cities – saving time and money.
“This service will also boost tourism across Newcastle and the Hunter, allowing more people than ever to experience this region’s stunning beaches and world-class wineries.
“I want to extend my sincere thanks to the New South Wales and Tasmanian governments as well as Newcastle and Hobart airports for their strong support of low fares travel and tourism.”
Jetstar now operates more than 770,000 seats per year into and out of Newcastle, with existing services to Brisbane, Cairns, Gold Coast and Melbourne coupled with the recent launch of international services to Bali. The airline will also connect through Denpasar to Singapore next year.
According to Linc Horton, chief executive of Newcastle Airport, the Hobart service “strengthens the region’s access to the places that matter”.
“The direct connection to Hobart is a key destination and we thank Jetstar’s continued confidence in our region,” he said.
“We also thank our government partners, tourism bodies and community advocates who helped make this route a reality.”
The NSW government has been pushing for more airlines to operate into and out of the state, including Newcastle Airport and Western Sydney International. Minister for Jobs and Tourism, Steve Kamper, said the Hobart service is part of plans to dramatically boost the state’s air traffic.
“This new route is part of our push to add aviation capacity across the state as we strive to reach $91 billion in visitor expenditure by 2035, a goal that will require 8.5 million new airline seats across NSW,” Minister Kamper said.
“We look forward to continuing our work with airports and airlines across NSW to stimulate aviation investment through funds such as the Aviation Attraction Fund, the NSW Take Off Fund, and the Western Sydney International Take-Off Fund.”
