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Jetstar is set to move in on another former Bonza route, with a new seasonal service connecting Darwin to the Gold Coast this year.
The late-night flights will operate four times per week from 26 June to 24 October 2025 using Jetstar’s A320 fleet, adding more than 25,000 low-cost seats between the two cities. It comes amid a larger ramp-up of Qantas Group services into Darwin.
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Darwin–Gold Coast is the second ex-Bonza route Jetstar will operate, following the launch of a Cairns–Sunshine Coast service in December. The airline was rumoured in October to be in talks to revive Bonza’s Toowoomba–Melbourne route.
“This new seasonal service will provide a direct connection between Darwin and the Gold Coast, eliminating the need for people to transit through other cities and making it much easier and affordable for travellers to fly between the Northern Territory and Queensland,” Jetstar CEO Stephanie Tully said.
“Darwin and the Gold Coast are not only amazing cities in their own right but they’re also gateways to spectacular holiday regions – with unique wildlife, stunning scenery and beautiful beaches and swimming spots.
“We thank the Northern Territory Government, Darwin Airport and Gold Coast Airport for their support in launching this new route.”
According to NT Minister for Trade, Business and Asian Relations Robyn Cahill, the Jetstar service will save Territorians both time and money.
“Territorians have been asking for more aviation routes and affordable airfares so will be delighted by today’s announcement by Jetstar, who are known to offer low airfares,” Minister Cahill said.
“We are focused on pursuing more aviation services coming into the Territory and will continue to invest in this area.”
No airline has flown non-stop between Darwin and the Gold Coast since the collapse of Bonza, which served the route for just over a month between March and April 2024.
Bonza had intended to start services between Darwin and the Gold Coast on 1 December 2023, but pushed the launch date back due to delays in the regulatory approval for its wet leasing agreement with sister Canadian airline Flair, which also postponed the launch of its Gold Coast base to later in the month.
The airline then postponed Gold Coast–Darwin again days before its revised launch date of 2 January 2024, saying the route would put a “strain on [its] current capacity”.
Bonza was placed into voluntary administration a month after the launch of Gold Coast–Darwin, following the repossession of its fleet at the end of April 2024.
