CZ adds Cairns to Australian network

CZ adds Cairns to Australian network
By admin


China Southern Airlines will launch seasonal flights from Guangzhou to Cairns, via Brisbane, at the end of the year as the airline edges towards its goal of flying to seven Australian ports.

The three times weekly service will operate between the peak holiday months of December and February.

During that period, the carrier will increase frequencies to Brisbane from four weekly flights to a daily service, with the additional services continuing on to Cairns.

The move came as Tourism Australia unveiled a $9 million marketing agreement with China Southern in collaboration with Destination New South Wales, Tourism Western Australia and Tourism Victoria.

Cairns becomes China Southern’s fifth Australian gateway with the carrier previously outlining plans operate to seven local ports over time.

“These additional services show how serious we are about further developing the important Australian market,” China Southern chief executive and president Tan Wangeng said.

He also flagged the prospect of increasing frequencies this year to Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.

The news will provide another shot in the arm for tourism in Tropical North Queensland which has already been buoyed by China Eastern’s announcement to operate into Cairns (Travel Today, July 20).

Tourism Australia managing director Andrew McEvoy, in Guangzhou for the announcement, said it could trigger a “tourism renaissance” for the region.

“Cairns and Tropical North Queensland have done it tough these last few years with floods, cyclone Yasi and a drop off in visitors from some of their traditional Western markets,” McEvoy said. “But we’re definitely seeing positive signs of a fight back, signalling what we all hope is a renaissance for the region’s tourism industry.”

The number of Chinese visitors to Cairns soared almost 40% last year which demonstrates clear appeal, McEvoy said.

Latest News

  • Aviation

Low-cost Indian carrier SpiceJet continues to burn cash

It’s not just low-cost Australian carriers that are facing hardship. SpiceJet, India’s version of Bonza, recently announced a 72 per cent reduction in its net loss versus last year. But, despite this improvement, the airline has posted losses for six straight years. But it has secured board approval to raise up to INR 30 billion […]

  • Attractions

SAKA Museum recognised in TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places 2024

AYANA Resort Bali’s newly-opened cultural and events centre, SAKA Museum has been recognised in TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places list for 2024. Part of AYANA Bali’s resort destination, the museum integrates Bali’s rich history with state-of-the-art facilities, making it the centrepiece for the island’s spiritual and cultural heritage. TIME magazine’s inclusion of SAKA Museum in […]

  • Cruise

Silversea taps Barbara Biffi as senior vice president for global sales

Ultra-luxury and expedition cruise travel brand, Silverseas, has announced Barbara Biffi as its new senior vice president of global sales. Biffi joined the company in 2007, holding numerous positions and gaining a deep understanding of the brand, the preferences of its guests and its strategic goals, the company said. An Italian national with a wealth […]

  • Technology
  • Travel Agents

Amadeus welcomes FCM Travel as new reseller partner of Cytric Easy

Cytric Easy, the travel management tool embedded in Microsoft Teams, is to be integrated into FCM Travel portfolio. Amadeus and FCM Travel have extended their Cytric distribution agreement to include Cytric Easy. With this new agreement, global travel management company FCM Travel, becomes a reseller of the innovative travel management collaboration solution embedded into Microsoft […]