Townsville Airport welcomes arrival of Jetstar’s Bali service

Townsville Airport’s ARFF service has given the arrival of Jetstar flight JQ101 with a traditional ‘monitor cross’ salute.

The Jetstar flight, operated by Airbus A320 VH-XSJ, arrived at Townsville Airport from Bali a little before 0930 local time on Thursday.

The arrival was Jetstar’s inaugural international service from Bali to the North Queensland city.

The inaugural Townsville-Bali flight, JQ102, departed Townsville a little before 2300 local time on Wednesday and arrived in Bali at 0130 the following day.

The reciprocal JQ101 took off from Bali at about 0245 local time.

More than 10,000 tickets have been sold for the three times weekly flights that were launched in April.

Townsville Airport received the go-ahead to again offer international flights in February after an “in-principle agreement of the National Passenger Processing Committee to facilitate international services” at the airport.

The airport has had international flights in the past, most recently with the now defunct Strategic Airlines flying to Bali.

Jetstar JQ101 is welcomed by an Airservices ARFF monitor cross at Townsville Airport. (Dave Parer)

Jetstar Airbus A320 VH-XSJ after operating JQ101 at Townsville Airport. (Dave Parer)