The Jetstar Airbus A321LR will mean more seats on the Canberra-Brisbane route. Photo: Supplied.
Jetstar’s bringing its larger Airbus A321LR to Canberra to meet demand on the popular flight to Brisbane.
The aircraft will fly the Canberra to Brisbane route between April and October this year, replacing Jetstar’s A320s on this route.
Jetstar CEO Stephanie Tully said this would mean up to 52 extra seats per flight.
“Canberrans and visitors to the region have embraced our low fares and we’re pleased to bring our larger A321LR aircraft to the nation’s capital for the first time, adding more than 19,000 low-fare seats on our Canberra to Brisbane route from April to October,” she said.
“This gives Canberrans more opportunities to take off more to the Sunshine State while also supporting local tourism and hospitality businesses with more travellers able experience the many attractions that Canberra and the region have to offer.”
The A321LR is described as a quieter, more fuel-efficient aircraft with larger overhead storage bins, in-seat power, and seat-back device holders.
Canberra Airport CEO Stephen Byron said having more seats available in a larger aircraft meant better value and more flexibility for customers.
“This additional capacity not only helps keep fares competitive, but it also gives passengers the chance to travel on Jetstar’s new aircraft, offering a more comfortable experience on one of our busiest routes,” he said.
“This is also a welcome boost for local businesses by supporting inbound tourism.”
Jetstar is one of the more reliable carriers for Canberrans travelling to Brisbane (and vice versa).
According to the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE), Jetstar only cancelled five flights from Canberra to Brisbane for all of 2025.
QantasLink cancelled 21 flights in March 2025 alone, while Virgin Australia cancelled nine flights for the route in the same month.
But Jetstar’s arrival and departure times on the Canberra to Brisbane can widely fluctuate. According to 2025 data, about 50 to 93 per cent of its flights on this route arrive and depart on time.
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the airline’s decision to increase capacity between Canberra and Brisbane was “fantastic news” for travel affordability.
“This will provide more affordable and frequent options when flying to South East Queensland,” he said.
“It also demonstrates confidence in Canberra’s tourism offering and aligns strongly with our tourism strategy to grow the Queensland market even further.”
Jetstar has launched a campaign to promote the increased seat capacity, offering one-way fares from Canberra to Brisbane from $129.
This price excludes checked bags, and travel dates and other conditions also apply.
