The latest statistics from Cairns Airport show strong growth in the number of passengers through T2 (Domestic Terminal) as well as increases in the number of passengers through T1 (International Terminal). The results for January 2014 showed a 13.4% increase in the number of passengers through T2 compared with January 2013.
There was sound growth in domestic passenger numbers right from early on in the month of January 2014. This was boosted by the huge influx of Chinese visitors travelling through both our airport’s terminals later in the month as the Chinese New Year travel period got underway in earnest.
Chinese visitors have once again demonstrated their strong appetite for Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef with many thousands arriving here during January on domestic services as well as on direct international services.
The growth in passenger numbers through T1 was partly due to the reinstatement of three China Eastern direct services per week from Shanghai which commenced on 8 January as well as China Southern and Cathay Pacific charter services, the latter being operated in addition to the regular Cathay Hong Kong-Cairns services.
Another boost for the destination is the fact that some of the T1 growth was also achieved on the direct Jetstar services into Cairns from the key Japanese cities of Tokyo and Osaka.
All this growth is great news for the Cairns and Great Barrier Reef destination and the region’s tourism industry. Cairns Airport continues to work with key tourism partners of Tourism Australia Tourism and Events Queensland and Tourism Tropical North Queensland as well as airline partners and the travel trade to grow passenger numbers further and build our case for more direct flights from mainland China, Singapore and other key international source markets and aviation hubs, as well as increased capacity from those airlines already operating direct international and domestic services into Cairns.
