Up To 11 Hours: Australia's Jetstar Adds New Long 1-Stop Airbus A321LR Flights

Jetstar, the low-cost airline under Qantas, has announced a new route connecting the Sunshine Coast, Bali, and Singapore. Starting March 24, the carrier will operate this one-stop journey three times per week using its 232-seat Airbus A321LR aircraft.

Route Overview

The new service spans 3,308 nautical miles (6,126 km) each way, linking Australians directly to two of the region’s most popular leisure destinations. Sunshine Coast ranks as Australia’s tenth-busiest airport by passenger numbers.

Context and Expansion

This development follows other recent route additions, such as the Gold Coast and Newcastle gaining new Bali services, with Newcastle now hosting its longest-ever international flight. These expansions stem from the limited traffic rights between Australia’s major cities and Bali, pushing Jetstar to explore alternative gateways supported by strong financial incentives.

Aircraft and Cost Efficiency

The Airbus A321LR, configured entirely in economy class, provides high capacity while maintaining extremely low seat-mile costs. This efficiency allows Jetstar to serve longer routes profitably, similar to other long-range operations like Air Astana’s A321LR flights to London Heathrow.

Market Demand Insights

“Booking data for Sunny Coast to Bali and Singapore is virtually nonexistent. But this is for one reason: nearly everyone drives to Brisbane to have nonstop flights.”

Although existing booking data is limited, Jetstar expects that offering direct service will stimulate significant new demand from travelers who previously used Brisbane as their international departure point.

Summary

Backed by local incentives and operational efficiency, Jetstar’s new Sunshine Coast–Bali–Singapore route marks another step in the airline’s strategy to expand regional connectivity using next-generation narrow-body jets.

Author’s Summary: Jetstar expands from Sunshine Coast to Bali and Singapore, boosting regional access with new A321LR flights starting March 2025.

Simple Flying — 2025-11-06