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Avalon Airport will have a new airline and new destination, with FlyPelican set to introduce flights to Canberra starting 26 October.
The regional carrier will fly three times a week between the nation’s capital and Avalon, which serves Melbourne as a secondary airport as well as Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula. Flights will operate on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays using British Aerospace Jetstream 32 aircraft.
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“This is an exciting step for FlyPelican as we strengthen our regional network,” said FlyPelican CEO Marty Hawley.
“We’re proud to provide the very first direct link between Canberra and Avalon – two dynamic regions with strong business and tourism appeal.”
The announcement has been welcomed by Avalon Airport, with its CEO Ari Suss saying it is “thrilled” to offer a new direct link to Canberra.
“These services will make travel between Victoria and the ACT easier for business, government and leisure travellers alike, without needing to cross the city to other airports.”
Avalon has been served solely by Jetstar since the collapse of Bonza, which flew from the airport to the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, last year. Speaking to Australian Aviation in May 2024, then-CEO Tony Brun said Avalon was the “logical choice” for low-cost carriers.
“Australia needs additional low-cost carrier capacity, and we can offer the airport capacity for them to service the market with a catchment of 3.3 million people,” he said.
“You can land at our airport and go to the footy and be there in an hour. There’s so many choices that we offer, and as I said, off-peak travel into Sydney Airport where there are slots – you could do it from Avalon, fill your boots. So, there is the capacity there.
“We need competition in the aviation space, but we also need competition in the airport space to provide the capacity for them to operate, and we are that source.”
Jetstar last year launched its 100th concurrent domestic route, from Avalon to Brisbane. The carrier also connects Avalon to Sydney and the Gold Coast.
FlyPelican, headquartered in Newcastle, earlier this year entered a one-way interline partnership with Qantas which will allow the Flying Kangaroo’s passengers to connect with its services.
