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Jetstar is set to dramatically reshape low-cost travel across Australia, Asia and the South Pacific in 2026, unveiling a wave of new and expanded routes from Melbourne Avalon, Brisbane and Newcastle to Bali, key South Asian gateways, Rarotonga, Queenstown and beyond.
Avalon’s Biggest Jetstar Growth Yet, Led by Bali
Melbourne Avalon is poised for its most significant Jetstar expansion to date, with the carrier locking in its first international route from the airport and a sharp boost in domestic capacity. From 23 March 2026, Jetstar will begin flying direct between Melbourne Avalon and Bali, marking a milestone for Victoria’s second major gateway as it joins the international map for budget-conscious holidaymakers.
The new Avalon to Bali service will operate five times weekly using Jetstar’s latest Airbus A321neo LR aircraft, adding more than 120,000 low-fare seats a year on the route. The narrowbody jets offer longer range and improved fuel efficiency, a key factor in opening up international links from Avalon while keeping fares competitive for leisure travellers.
Alongside the Bali launch, Jetstar will restart Avalon to Adelaide flights and significantly increase services to Brisbane, collectively delivering more than 330,000 additional seats annually in and out of Avalon. The move cements Jetstar’s role as the airport’s anchor carrier and is expected to draw more travellers from Geelong, the Surf Coast and western Melbourne who prefer Avalon’s smaller terminal and easier access over Melbourne Tullamarine.
Ground connectivity is also being strengthened, with a new government-backed bus link connecting Avalon to Lara Station and complementing existing coach services. The improved transport options are designed to support the step change in passenger numbers as the airport transitions into a more substantial domestic and international hub.
Brisbane Emerges as a Gateway to the Cook Islands and Queenstown
Brisbane is another big winner in Jetstar’s 2026 network plans, as the carrier expands its role as Queensland’s leading low-cost international airline. In May 2026, Jetstar will launch its first direct service from Brisbane to Rarotonga, capital of the Cook Islands, opening a new South Pacific holiday corridor for Queenslanders who previously had to route via Sydney or Auckland.
The Brisbane to Rarotonga flights will operate three times per week, also using the A321neo LR, providing more than 50,000 seats a year on the new route. The service follows the success of Jetstar’s earlier Sydney to Rarotonga flights and underscores rising Australian demand for boutique island destinations that offer a smaller-scale alternative to more crowded Pacific and Southeast Asian resorts.
The Rarotonga launch comes as the wider Qantas Group rolls out a major trans-Tasman expansion, including a new Jetstar-operated Brisbane to Queenstown route scheduled to commence in 2026. Together, the South Pacific and New Zealand additions reinforce Brisbane’s positioning as a gateway for adventure and snow holidays as well as tropical escapes, while delivering a fresh influx of visitors to Queensland when flights operate in the other direction.
For Brisbane Airport, the new services deepen its already strong footprint across the Pacific, with management touting the economic dividend for tourism, hospitality and export-oriented businesses that depend on reliable and affordable air links.
Newcastle’s Bali Flights Scale Up and Link to Southeast Asia
In regional New South Wales, Newcastle is rapidly evolving from a purely domestic airport into a genuine international player, with Jetstar significantly ramping up its Bali operation in 2026. Only weeks after launching its first-ever Newcastle to Bali flights, the airline has committed to increasing frequencies from late March 2026 to meet stronger than expected demand from the Hunter region.
From that time, Jetstar plans to operate up to four weekly services from Newcastle to Bali, on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The uplift will take capacity on the route to more than 96,000 seats a year, bringing regular low fares to what was until recently a largely underserved international market.
Crucially, the expanded schedule will see those four weekly flights continue on from Bali to Singapore after a short ground stop, effectively creating a one-stop link between Newcastle and one of Asia’s most important aviation hubs. That connectivity opens up a wide range of onward options across Southeast Asia, South Asia and Europe on Qantas Group and partner airlines, without travellers needing to backtrack via Sydney.
Local tourism bodies and business groups have welcomed the move, arguing the enhanced Bali and Singapore access will make the Hunter more appealing for inbound visitors while giving locals greater choice for holidays and corporate travel alike.
Bali and South Asia Remain at the Heart of Demand
The common thread running through Jetstar’s 2026 schedule changes is the enduring strength of demand for leisure travel to Bali and wider South Asia, even as new islands and ski destinations join the network. For many Australian travellers, Bali continues to be the default international getaway thanks to short flight times, familiar tourist infrastructure and a deep pool of low-cost seats.
By introducing Bali services from Avalon, growing capacity from Newcastle and maintaining strong links from Queensland, Jetstar is broadening the catchment of travellers who can access the Indonesian resort island without transiting through major capital airports. That strategy dovetails with the carrier’s reliance on the A321neo LR, which gives it the range to serve Bali profitably from secondary cities while offering improved comfort over older single-aisle jets.
The South Asian market, meanwhile, is set to benefit indirectly from the expanded network. Connections via Singapore and Bali, alongside existing and proposed links to hubs such as Colombo and other regional gateways, will give price-sensitive travellers new one-stop paths to the Indian subcontinent and surrounding regions. It reflects a wider trend in which low-cost and hybrid carriers use strategic stopovers to stitch together longer journeys once dominated by full-service airlines.
Industry analysts expect that as more Australians travel onward from hubs like Singapore and Bali to South Asian destinations, competition will intensify on both the short- and long-haul legs, putting further downward pressure on fares and encouraging airlines to refine their schedules and onboard products.
Tourism and Regional Economies Prepare for a 2026 Lift
For tourism operators from Victoria to Queensland, the Cook Islands and New Zealand’s South Island, Jetstar’s 2026 expansion is being viewed as a timely boost ahead of what many expect to be another strong year for leisure travel. Added capacity from Avalon, Brisbane and Newcastle is likely to support regional dispersal, with more visitors funnelling into areas outside the major capital-city catchments.
In Victoria, Avalon’s growing role as an alternative gateway could draw a larger share of inbound holidaymakers directly into Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula and the Great Ocean Road, easing pressure on Melbourne Tullamarine while spreading tourism spending more evenly. Similarly, more direct and affordable flights from Brisbane to Rarotonga are expected to provide a lift to the Cook Islands’ tourism-dependent economy, where visitor arrivals have a direct impact on employment and government revenue.
Queenstown and the broader Central Otago region, already heavily reliant on Australian visitors for both winter ski seasons and summer adventure travel, stand to benefit from additional trans-Tasman capacity. Increased competition on Brisbane to Queenstown is likely to keep fares keen, making it easier for families and younger travellers to factor a New Zealand escape into their 2026 plans.
While the full impact of Jetstar’s growing 2026 network will take time to play out, the early signals are clear: secondary airports and smaller tourism economies are moving closer to the centre of Australia’s international travel map, supported by a new generation of aircraft and a renewed appetite for affordable overseas holidays.