Adelaide services return to Launceston ahead of busy summer holidays

Tasmanians can now head direct to Adelaide from the state’s northern gateway, with Virgin Australia resuming its direct flights three times a week from today.

It follows the resumption of direct seasonal services to Perth in October, ahead of a busy summer holiday period.

Launceston Airport CEO Shane O’Hare said the return of Adelaide flights means Northern Tasmania has direct connections to the five mainland state capitals ahead of the summer season.

“This is great news for Tasmanians who want to explore the mainland, but it’s also great news for our local tourism industry, with these new services driving interstate visitation to our region,” he said.

“It’s clear that people are excited to travel, as we go into the first Christmas holiday and New Year period without restrictions.”

Virgin Australia Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer Alistair Hartley said the airline was now operating more flights through Launceston Airport than pre-Covid.

"We're thrilled to see the return of this seasonal service to Adelaide which joins direct Virgin Australia connections from Launceston to Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth,” he said.

“We have grown our capacity in Tasmania by more than 20 per cent compared to pre-pandemic levels, reflecting the growing popularity of the state as a leisure destination.”

Tourism Tasmania CEO John Fitzgerald said the resumption of direct services to Adelaide for summer is welcome news for the tourism sector.

“Demand for travel to Tasmania is at its highest at this time of the year and convenient connectivity to and from our island state is critical for visitors and locals alike,” he said.

If you’re travelling through Launceston Airport over Christmas, there are a range of activities planned, including:

• Live entertainment in the terminal during peak periods from the 19^th of December
• Meet the makers markets showcasing some of Tasmania’s finest produce
• Post a letter to Santa activation

Launceston Airport encourages travellers to arrive 90 minutes prior to their flight departure time to enable a smooth check-in and security process.

To make the airport experience even easier, 30 minutes free parking is now available in the short-term car park for people picking up or dropping off family and friends.

For further information contact: Launceston Airport Media on (03) 9335 3666