The Australian Hotels Association (WA) welcomed Jetstar’s significant network expansion in WA, with additional direct flights and a new pilot base in Perth to deliver a meaningful boost to the visitor economy.

AHA(WA) CEO Bradley Woods said the new direct flights to Singapore, Phuket, and Bangkok will cement Perth as the Western gateway to Australia and set the groundwork for substantial growth in the coming years.

“WA’s hotels, bars, pubs, restaurants and tourism venues are the direct and major beneficiaries of this announcement,” Mr Woods said.

“The tens of thousands of additional visitors will provide an immediate boost to visitation in 2024 with new convenient connections with key Southeast Asian markets.”

“Equally important is today’s announcement that Jetstar will establish a new pilot hub, which demonstrates the airline’s long-term commitment to Perth and an appetite to explore future opportunities, which WA is well positioned to capitalise on.”

“Given Perth’s remoteness from other major cities, new direct flights are critical to the growth of WA’s hotel and hospitality industry.”

“The significant investment announced by Jetstar today sends a very clear and positive message that when it comes to the visitor economy, the future is bright in WA.”