“The best thing to come out of Busselton in years”: First direct flight from Melbourne lands in the South West

The first direct flight between Melbourne and Busselton touched down in the South West on Wednesday morning, sparking an emotional reunion for many local families after a long two years of delays. First planned for March 2020, the direct route linking the Busselton Margaret River Airport to Melbourne was repeatedly delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic and hard border restrictions. However, through the continued support of Jetstar, the McGowan Government and local agencies, the long-awaited flights are officially under way with the route estimated to bring in more than 60,000 visitors over the next three years through its three return services per week. A full flight of 186 passengers both returning and holidaying touched down at the South West airport, before another packed plane took off. City of Busselton Mayor Grant Henley said the service was “just the beginning.” “We’ve been working toward this end since 2010, when planning for the airport upgrade first commenced, but I have to say it has been well worth the wait,” he said. “This is an important milestone for the City of Busselton and the State ... we are on the cusp of something very exciting, placing our region on the national and international tourism stage. ”Thank you to Jetstar and the Qantas Group for recognising the region’s potential, Jetstar’s commitment to the new service and what will be known as one of its longest launches in history, just over two years, is to be commended.” The monumental flight link had a hint of emotion to it for many who were reuniting with family for the first time since the pandemic began. None more so than Christy Silva and Deanna Harrison, sisters born and raised in Augusta, who haven’t seen each other in since 2020. “We haven’t seen each other for two years, it’s amazing, it’s really special,” Deanna said. “We had no idea it was the first flight, we just lucked out.” “This is the best thing to come out of Margaret River Busselton in years,” exclaimed the girls’ father Alan, between tears. “And we don’t have to drive to Perth, it’s great we’re going straight home … the holiday starts now.” Making a notable mark in the State’s tourism industry, Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan described the occasion as “a real coming of age for Western Australia”. “We have a quarter of a million people living in the South West that now have access directly to the Eastern States,” she said. “We are seeing the development of the sophistication and size of our regional communities that they can now support services of their own like this.” Jetstar chief executive Gareth Evans revelled in the excitement, saying it’s clear the demand for the South West was huge. “Whether it’s enjoying the winery regions in the winter or making the most of the surf in the summer, our low fares to Margaret River have huge appeal for travellers,” he said. “We continue to see strong demand for domestic travel and for our new Busselton service, with our customers telling us they’re keen to explore places they’ve never been to before.” The inaugural flight from Busselton to Melbourne also took off on Wednesday, with many passengers eager to spend Easter with their loved ones. Flights along the route are currently on sale, with prices as low as just $89 per flight.