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.

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