Qantas: New route – Canberra to Gold Coast, because COVID-19

Now that Queensland is opening its border to the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), Qantas is facilitating a way for Canberrans to escape the confines of the national capital and fly to Coolangatta on Queensland’s Gold Coast.

Qantas flight details

The 4 times weekly flights run on Monday, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays on QantasLink B717s with a few rows of business class. Economy tickets are pricey at AU$189 each way – but then isn’t all flying at the moment?

• QF1570 from Canberra (CBR) 12:00 arriving at the Gold Coast (OOL) 13:40
• QF1571 from Gold Coast (OOL) 14:20 arriving in Canberra (CBR) 16:10

These are direct flights. No travelling via Sydney or Brisbane at the moment.

Virgin also has direct flights

Virgin also runs this route, but only 2 flights per week at the moment, but only Monday and Fridays:

• VA1687 from Canberra (CBR) 10:40 arriving at the Gold Coast (OOL) 11:15
• VA1690 from Gold Coast (OOL) 12:00 arriving in Canberra (CBR) 14:40

You do get the advantage of travelling on a 737, mind you. Retiurn fares are around the AU$388 price range.

2PAXfly Takeout

The aviation industry has a difficult road ahead when it comes to sustainability. It’s going to require a relative revolution in technology, with ‘electric planes’ or hydrogen planes, or some form of jet engine that doesn’t require a carbon based fuel. And that is going to require the development of an alternative to jet engines probably.

It’s a big ask. It will take time to develop.

This move to home grown and manufactured SAF is a first step – maybe even a baby step in a very long road of innovation. In the long run, US$200 million won’t even touch the sides.

Thank God, Canberrans can now escape to Queensland, or even Byron Bay in northern New South Wales, and escape the quiet, cold, desolate suburbs of our national capital.

Some of my best friends live in . . .