![SEEKING SUNSHINE: Cooranbong couple Graham and Caryn Crouch, aged 56 and 57 respectively, snapped up $199 one-way tickets to the Sunshine Coast as soon as they heard of FlyPelican's direct flights. Picture: Simone De Peak SEEKING SUNSHINE: Cooranbong couple Graham and Caryn Crouch, aged 56 and 57 respectively, snapped up $199 one-way tickets to the Sunshine Coast as soon as they heard of FlyPelican's direct flights. Picture: Simone De Peak](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/max.mckinney/53d3f290-a696-48d4-b27b-5fb8a5465a98.jpg/r0_0_4609_3060_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
CONVENIENT, quicker door-to-door and not much more expensive than the alternative options.
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They're the reasons why some passengers chose to buy tickets for FlyPelican's inaugural flight between Newcastle Airport and the Sunshine Coast on Monday.
The airline commenced its direct service to the Queensland holiday hotspot yesterday while Jetstar began winding back flights between Williamtown and Melbourne due to Victoria's COVID-19 related border restrictions.
About half of the aircraft's 19 seats were booked for the 10.20am flight north with a similar number expected to be on the return service later that day.
Most passengers were off to see family and were hoping the weather would match the destination's name after a dreary week in Newcastle.
Elizabeth Riley, 70, was travelling north for a week to see her six-month old grandson for the first time.
The Murrays Beach resident said she had only seen printed photos of the baby boy and had been communicating with her son's family "the old-fashioned way" via telephone as she was not able to make video calls.
"It's very exciting," she said before boarding the flight.
![HOLIDAY: Elizabeth Riley steps into the FlyPelican plane. Picture: Simone De Peak HOLIDAY: Elizabeth Riley steps into the FlyPelican plane. Picture: Simone De Peak](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/max.mckinney/ee04a9bd-eae9-4e40-aced-c144defb25ef.jpg/r0_334_5184_3260_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
"I actually heard about the flights on 2NUR [FM radio] and thought, gee that's fantastic not having to go down to Sydney to get to the Sunshine Coast, or fly from here and having to go to Brisbane.
"Either way you've got quite a journey before you get there. So this is perfect."
Despite Mascot Airport being only about 30 minutes further away than Williamtown for Cooranbong couple Graham and Caryn Crouch, they opted to fly from Newcastle Airport and booked tickets a day after they went on sale in early December.
"We're going to see my old man," Mr Crouch said. "It's easier to come here. They used to do it years ago, it makes sense and it keeps the money in the area."
FlyPelican CEO Marty Hawley said border restrictions introduced after the Northern Beaches outbreak had slowed bookings but he was confident the 12-week trial would be a success.
"It's tracking quite well, it's obviously a pretty popular destination and it's the most northern destination now out of Newcastle people can travel to," he said.
"It's potentially going to be a great success.
![UP AND AWAY: FlyPelican CEO Marty Hawley, left, and Newcastle Airport CEO Dr Peter Cock, right, at a ceremony before the first flight. Picture: Simone De Peak UP AND AWAY: FlyPelican CEO Marty Hawley, left, and Newcastle Airport CEO Dr Peter Cock, right, at a ceremony before the first flight. Picture: Simone De Peak](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/max.mckinney/ccd4bc4f-23d9-4c27-a7b3-c0531a580e1a.jpg/r0_425_5034_3255_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
"The first two weeks were very strong but with the outbreak it did slow things down a fair bit, but now it's a bit clearer and people are more comfortable bookings are starting to pick back up."
FlyPelican will operate return flights on the route on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Ms Riley said as a regular traveller to the Sunshine Coast she would love to have the ability to take the flight year-round.
"I would always get this flight if it was available and I would love for it to run in winter because that is a great time for us to go up to the Sunshine Coast," she said.
Meanwhile, Jetstar has started consolidating its flights between Newcastle Airport and Melbourne's Tullamarine as demand falls due to Victoria's border restrictions.
It plans to operate four return flights per week on the route for essential workers.
Virgin continues to operate four return services per week.
Qantas announced last month it would recommence flights between Newcastle and Melbourne for the first time in more than a decade from February 1.
It plans to operate 12 return flights per week on the route but said on Monday it would push the start of services back to March 1.
"We'll be contacting customers impacted by the change in the coming days," a Qantas spokesman said.
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