Jetstar celebrated the inaugural flight of JQ-929 from Brisbane to Cebu at 12:05 pm on 3 December, giving Australia its first non-stop link to the economic hub of the central Philippines. The seasonal service operates three times per week on new Airbus A321LR aircraft and will increase to four weekly rotations from January after strong early demand.
The low-cost carrier says the route provides 37,000 additional seats per annum and complements its newly launched Perth–Manila flight, collectively offering more than 109,000 seats between the two nations each year. Queensland’s Filipino diaspora—Australia’s third-largest—welcomed the time saving over previous one-stop itineraries via Singapore or Manila.
![Jetstar Opens Direct Brisbane–Cebu Route, Adding 37,000 Seats a Year]()
Tourism Research Australia projects that Filipino visitor numbers will surpass pre-pandemic levels by mid-2026, buoyed by rising middle-class incomes and relaxed Philippine departure taxes. Brisbane Airport CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff noted that Cebu becomes the gateway’s 35th international destination, just as the airport embarks on a $5 billion infrastructure upgrade.
Corporate mobility teams with operations in mining, BPO and renewable-energy projects across Visayas and Mindanao can now trim travel times and costs, potentially rotating staff on 10-day rosters without overnight layovers. Cargo forwarders also see new bellyhold capacity for high-value seafood and aerospace parts.
The low-cost carrier says the route provides 37,000 additional seats per annum and complements its newly launched Perth–Manila flight, collectively offering more than 109,000 seats between the two nations each year. Queensland’s Filipino diaspora—Australia’s third-largest—welcomed the time saving over previous one-stop itineraries via Singapore or Manila.
Tourism Research Australia projects that Filipino visitor numbers will surpass pre-pandemic levels by mid-2026, buoyed by rising middle-class incomes and relaxed Philippine departure taxes. Brisbane Airport CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff noted that Cebu becomes the gateway’s 35th international destination, just as the airport embarks on a $5 billion infrastructure upgrade.
Corporate mobility teams with operations in mining, BPO and renewable-energy projects across Visayas and Mindanao can now trim travel times and costs, potentially rotating staff on 10-day rosters without overnight layovers. Cargo forwarders also see new bellyhold capacity for high-value seafood and aerospace parts.
