Cairns-Shanghai air link confirmed

Cairns-Shanghai air link confirmed
By admin


China Eastern Airlines has confirmed it will touch down in Cairns later this year, delivering a major boost to tourism businesses in North Queensland.

The three times weekly A330-200 service, flagged by Travel Today earlier this month, will add to the 14 direct weekly services already operated by the airline from Shanghai to Sydney and Melbourne.

Tourism minister Martin Ferguson said the new flights would help local businesses capitalise on the thriving Chinese market.

“Of more than a half a million Chinese visitors to Australia, over 226,000 travelled to Queensland in the year ending March 2012, with 88,000 of these visiting the region around Cairns,” he said.

“Access to Australia and regional airports such as Cairns are vital to securing this growth."

Meanwhile, Tourism Australia managing director Andrew McEvoy confirmed the tourism body would undertake joint marketing activities with China Eastern, China’s second largest airline, to promote the new route using traditional and digital media platforms.

“With the number of Chinese visitors to Cairns and surrounding regions up 39% last year, the market is clearly there and I’m very hopeful that we’ll see China Eastern quickly ramp up its initial foray into the region,” he said.

The new route is the latest in a burst of air capacity from China, following the start of China Southern Airlines services from Guangzhou to Perth in November last year.

McEvoy credited a co-ordinated approach from regional, state and federal tourism authorities with securing the “much needed” new air links.
 

Latest News

  • Destinations
  • News

APT Launches 2025 Asia Adventures

APT has launched its Asia Adventures for 2025, including new luxury holidays in India, Sri Lanka and Japan. Five new tours lead guests to the highlights of India, including a seven-night cruise along the rarely travelled Lower Ganges aboard the Ganges Voyager. Further south, Sri Lanka’s greatest destinations are revealed on a new 15-day Land […]

  • Cruise
  • Luxury
  • News

Seabourn announces Western Kimberley Traditional Owners as Godparents of Seabourn Pursuit

Seabourn has named Western Kimberley Traditional Owners, the Wunambal Gaambera, as Godparents of the ultra-luxury purpose-built Seabourn Pursuit. It is the first cruise line to appoint Traditional Owners as godparents of a ship. Seabourn Pursuit embarks on its inaugural season in the Kimberley region this June. The naming ceremony will take place on Seabourn Pursuit’s […]

  • Luxury

Malolo Island Resort opens brand new Spa

Fiji’s Malolo Island has added another string to its bow – opening its $1.3 million day spa on Thursday, 18th April 2024. (Lead Image: matriarch Rosie Whitton with spa staff) Located at the edge of the resort’s luscious patch of tropical rainforest, the new “Leilani’s Spa” adds another level of elevated experiences to Malolo’s already […]