Historic moment for Tasmanian aviation with new direct flights to the mainland

The commencement of seasonal flights between the two cities is the latest offering from Virgin Australia, which will connect Northern residents to all the capital cities on the mainland - with the exception of Darwin and Canberra.

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The service will operate three flights a week over the summer season, however, Virgin Australia chief strategy and transformation officer Alistair Hartley said the airline would look to extend the service.

"At the moment, the service runs through the summer peak period, but early in the new year we'll be looking to re-establish that," he said.

"We'd love to be able to extend the service from seasonal to a year-round service."

Launceston Airport chief executive Shane O'Hare said the new service was not only good for business, but a historic moment in Tasmanian aviation.

"It's a historical first, because this is the first time Launceston has been connected to the six biggest cities in Australia, non-stop," he said.

"That's great for Northern Tasmanians and that's great for Launcestonians."

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Mr O'Hare said with the addition of the Perth service, flights at the airport had risen from 260 pre-COVID to 320 per week.

He explained the 60 additional flights meant traffic through the airport had risen by 23 per cent since before lockdown.

"We were down to about four or five flights a day into Launceston a few months ago, so very, very low during the peak of COVID," he said

"Last year, we were down to two flights a week. So, you can definitely see the change in the air as such right now."

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Tourism, Hospitality and Events Minister for Sarah Courtney said the new service was a major win for travellers seeking direct flights to interstate destinations.

She said the new flights could not come at a better time, with the Tasmanian Holiday Voucher program starting on Thursday, and the Christmas and tourist-heavy summer period fast approaching.

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