SkyBus to end Gold Coast hotel shuttle
5 March 2020
The owner of world-leading airport transfer service SkyBus has today announced the discontinuation of the company’s Gold Coast hotel shuttle to concentrate on its Byron Bay Express service.
The shuttle service between the airport and Gold Coast hotels has experienced steady growth under SkyBus’s management since 2017, however factors including weak market growth and alternative transport options have affected the ongoing sustainability of the door-to-door model.
The service will end on Tuesday 31 March with SkyBus shifting its focus to the point-to-point Byron Bay Express service which continues to experience significant and growing demand with its $15 adult fare and $2 child fare from the Gold Coast Airport. The bright red SkyBus customer service ticketing kiosk will remain at the airport for arrivals.
Adam Begg, Co-CEO of SkyBus’s owner Kinetic, says it was disappointing to end the Gold Coast hotel shuttle after investing significant time and effort into improving the service.
“Everyone from drivers to customer service and support staff have successfully turned this operation into a superior service, however the door-to-door transfer is simply not a sustainable transport model on the Gold Coast and is not core to the SkyBus business,” Mr. Begg said.
“We are of course in the very fortunate position that all of our team impacted by the decision can transition into other areas of our business on the Gold Coast where we operate four depots and more than 350 buses.”
Gold Coast Airport continues to be serviced by numerous transport options including taxis and rideshare, car hire, door to door services and public transport. Travelers are recommended to check the best transport option for them via the Gold Coast Airport website.
About SkyBus
SkyBus has provided safe and convenient airport transport in Australia for more than 41 years and in New Zealand since 2015, pairing affordability with superior service, offering free WiFi, luggage racks, reliable running times, and online, mobile and e-kiosk ticketing options.
SkyBus’s iconic vehicles transfer more than 5 million passengers each year to Melbourne City, Southbank, St Kilda, Geelong, Werribee, Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula, the Gold Coast, Byron Bay and Auckland.
SkyBus was inducted into the RACV Victorian Tourism Awards Hall of Fame in 2019 after winning the Gold prize in 2018, 2017 and 2016. SkyBus also received its fourth consecutive Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence in 2019.
About Kinetic
Kinetic is the leading mass transit operator of airport transit service SkyBus, urban route companies Surfside Buslines and Sunbus, and Sydney’s largest bus and coach company Telfords.
Kinetic moves in excess of 35 million people every year across Australia and New Zealand with a focus on moving more people, more often, through providing ‘awesome’ experiences.