Jetstar to start direct flights between the Gold Coast and Seoul

Jetstar will being flying to Seoul Incheon from Gold Coast beginning Dec 8. Running thrice weekly Wed, Fri, Sun as JQ49.

Return flights ICNOOL (overnight Wed, Fri, Sun) are JQ50 and also tag to SYD

The SIN-MEL service wasnt great with 2 weekly service and a high cancellation rate

Very interesting. I was at a meeting this week about flights from Melbourne to Seoul. Out of Seoul, Melbourne is the number 1 destination not served by a direct flight and out of Melbourne, Seoul is the number 1 destination not served by a direct flight. Re-establishing MEL-ICN is Melbourne Airport’s top goal.

Flights commence 8 December

JQ49 OOL 1320 - 2200 ICN 357
JQ50 ICN 2330 - 0945+1 OOL 357

On 8/9 Dec it does seem to operate as a tag and seemingly does this on Fri and Sun but not Wed

JQ11 SYD 0850 OOL 0910 57

JQ50 OOL 1115 SYD 1345 61

The JQ11 numbering also works with the NRT flight which departs 1030. I think the other 787 is a NRT turnaround

Wed tag from Melbourne

JQ49 MEL 1045 OOL 1150 3

JQ50 OOL 1115 MEL 1430 4

I’ve no doubt a focus on the ICN->OOL travel market makes sense. However, the case for reestablishing a ICN-MEL direct flight is compelling. There’s a view that building the case for it should be like the lobbying that went on to get JAL to fly to MEL. As soon as JAL decided to enter the market Qantas took Melbourne - Tokyo off Jetstar in order to compete. That was a 2-3 year lobbying effort though so it’s likely the same will be needed for Melbourne - Seoul.

OOL makes sense. It can capture Brisbane Sydney and Melbourne passengers with no backtracking and high frequency connections.