Mainland China returns to Aussie state with direct flights
The Queensland (QLD) government is set to reconnect Mainland China with Brisbane, QLD, in a AUD$200 million (USD$128.69 million) aviation fund that will see China Eastern Airlines return to QLD with direct flights to Brisbane from Shanghai on October 29, and China Southern Airlines’ launching seasonal daily flights direct to Brisbane from Guangzhou.
Initially offering three direct flights from Shanghai to Brisbane per week, China Eastern will expand services to fives times per week within three years, and has confirmed the addition of daily seasonal flights from December 8, 2023, until early 2024.
During the first year of operation, China Eastern will deliver almost 41,000 seats to Brisbane, onboard A330-200 aircraft, with the new flights predicted to inject approximately AUD$314 million (approximately USD$202 million) into the economy whilst supporting 1,270 jobs.
China Southern Airlines has confirmed it will be expanding direct Brisbane services from Guangzhou, China, to a daily rate from December to February, coinciding with the traditional Chinese New Year peak travel season.
The announcement comes after China Southern Airlines confirmed it would reconnect mainland China with QLD, offering direct flights from Guangzhou four times per week, starting from mid-November, after the recent lifting of China’s pandemic suspension.
The Guangzhou to Brisbane route is one of 25 strategic international connections secured by the Queensland Government’s AUD$200 million (approximately USD $128.69 million) Attracting Aviation Investment Fund (AAIF), in partnership with Queensland’s four international airports.
The AAIF is set to accelerate the Australian state’s international tourism recovery, generating a predicted AUD$1.49 billion (approximately USD$958.99 million) and support for 18,500 jobs.
Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, China was Queensland’s biggest tourism draw-card with almost 500,000 visitors contributing AUD$1.6 billion (approximately USD$1.03 billion) to the state’s economy each year.
