Cairns Airport welcomes the announcement by Hong Kong Airlines that they will operate a seasonal service into Cairns during the 2016 Chinese New Year period.
Cairns Airport Chief Executive Officer, Kevin Brown, said this would be the first time Hong Kong Airlines will operate a service to Australia so it is fantastic they have chosen to come to Cairns.
“The flights will commence in January 2016, and run for three months, offering three return services per week from Hong Kong on a triangulated route between Cairns and the Gold Coast,” Mr Brown said.
“Securing this service into Cairns for an extended period that covers the 2016 Chinese New Year is a coup for our destination and the result of a collaborative partnership between Cairns Airport, Gold Coast Airport and Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ).
Cairns Airport GM Aeronautical, Janice Antonson, said the news from Hong Kong Airlines adds to the news recently announced by Cairns Airport of the return of China Eastern Airlines with an extended schedule of 2016 Chinese New Year seasonal services from Shanghai commencing 15 January.
“This will be a daily service until 21 February and from February 22 through to 30 April it will operate three return flights per week,” Ms Antonson said.
“China Eastern and Hong Kong Airlines together will operate a total of 89 flights into Cairns with the potential to carry around 23,000 passengers.”
“With around 20,000 people arriving into Cairns from China for the Chinese New Year period in past years, including many thousand who arrive here on domestic services, these flights will be an enormous boost to our total visitor numbers.”
Mr Brown said the Hong Kong Airlines announcement also adds to other good news for Cairns Airport which has included new direct SilkAir services from Singapore, direct Jetstar flights from Bali and from December, a new Manila-Cairns-Auckland service by Philippine Airlines.
“All these services are contributing to strong growth in international passenger numbers, boosting our region’s tourism industry and generating significant revenue and employment for the regional and state economy.”