Scoot eyes Gold Coast-Europe flights in 2017

Singaporean budget airline Scoot will offer one-stop flights between the Gold Coast and several destinations in Europe for less than $1,000 starting next year.

Scoot Australia general manager Dennis Basham has said seats will be $200 to $300 cheaper than what is normally available, usually in the $1,300 range.

“We have three to four destinations in Europe we are looking at,” Basham told the Gold Coast Bulletin.

He refused to divulge any of the European destinations but said that given this planned expansion, “Scoot will be the only budget carrier offering one-stop flights from the Gold Coast to Europe.”

To recall, Malaysian low-cost airline Air Asia used to fly from the Gold Coast to Europe via Kuala Lumpur. Air Asia pulled out from the route in 2012 due to exorbitant taxes and worsening European economic conditions.

In reviving the route, Scoot would transit in Singapore. Flights from the Gold Coast to Singapore will last eight hours while the next flight will take 10 to 11 hours more.

Passengers will fly via Scoots’s Dreamliner 787 aircraft, whose 900 series offer 375 seats while the 800 series offer 335 seats. Scoot will deploy five flights a week, but it aims to increase the frequency up to seven so as to fly daily.

“The first one we announce will be a very interesting destination for Australians that is not traditionally serviced,” Basha said without naming it. But he said he would likely reveal two European destinations before the year ends.

The revival of the Goal Coast-Europe flights will just be in time for the Commonwealth Games in 2018.

“With the Commonwealth Games coming up this will appeal to many spectators who want to attend,” said Gold Coast tourism chief executive Martin Winter.

“Anything that is going to provide more affordable fares from Europe is very welcome, particularly given we have had extremely strong growth from European markets Great Britain and Germany in the past 12 months,” he added.