Story by ANDREW KACIMAIWAI
CHINESE airlines are boosting their services into Brisbane as the peak summer season approached.
China Eastern Airlines will resume non-stop flights between Shanghai and Brisbane from October 31 with three weekly flights, which will become daily flights from December 8 for the peak travel season, using the 232-passenger widebody Airbus A330-200.
“We are delighted to welcome Shanghai back to the BNE (Brisbane) destination map. Shanghai is China’s largest city and a commercial hub, making it a key city for business and leisure travel,” said Gert-Jan de Graaff, Chief Executive Officer of Brisbane Airport Corporation.
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“With two carriers now set to resume services from mainland China, we’re forecasting China will likely regain its spot as Queensland’s number one source for inbound tourists in 2024.”
China Southern Airlines also boosting its weekly flights to Brisbane to a daily flight from December 8, 2023, to February 25, 2024 (see below).
The China Eastern flights are tipped to generate around $314 million for Queensland tourism over three years and support 1270 jobs.
“China Eastern Airlines, a member of Skyteam, is thrilled to return to Brisbane from October 29 and offer Brisbane travellers a non-stop service to Shanghai,” said China Eastern Airlines Oceania General Manager Jim Young.
“Our non-stop flight to and from Brisbane will further substantiate Shanghai as an exceptional hub for both business and leisure travellers to destinations cross China and beyond on a global scale.”
The deal is the 26th international connection secured by the Attracting Aviation Investment Fund, a joint Queensland Government and airports initiative.
Tourism Mininster Stirling Hinchliffe said: “This is more terrific news for the international recovery of Queensland’s world-class tourism industry.
“We know Chinese travellers are eager to return and rediscover Queensland’s great lifestyle and iconic visitor experiences … The message potential visitors are hearing in China from Tourism and Events Queensland’s (TEQ) tourism marketing is Queensland is Good to Go.
“We’re seeing that reflected in strong Queensland holiday bookings from Guangzhou and now new tourism opportunities for visitors to fly direct from China’s biggest city, Shanghai.”
Shanghai is China’s largest city with a population greater than Australia’s and is China’s biggest commercial hub. From their global hub at Pudong Airport, China Eastern can connect travellers and cargo to 80 destinations in China or 46 other destinations.
The Brisbane Economic Development Agency was also supportive of the deal and will market the new flights to Brisbane in China.
“Brisbane just keeps getting better and our growing reputation as a safe and exciting destination means visitors from around the world are eager to explore our incredible city,” according to Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner.
“This deal will see an entire new generation of Chinese travellers discover Brisbane’s retail, restaurant, tourism and entertainment precincts which will help create jobs and opportunities for local residents.”
Destination Gold Coast interim COO Rachel Hancock welcomed the news as well while Queensland exporters will welcome the return of a direct air-cargo route to China; 11,000 tonnes a year was sent from Brisbane to China pre-Covid mostly via Sydney or Melbourne airports.
“This is massive news for Queensland exporters with the volume of freight sent to China slumping since the loss of direct flights. Queensland’s rural producers and exporters will soon have direct access to 1.4 billion customers across China and beyond,” according to Gert-Jan de Graaff.
Queensland’s top exports to China include chilled beef, seafood, provitamins and vitamins, beauty and make-up products and fresh produce.
China Eastern’s Brisbane flights will operate in codeshare with Qantas. Services will depart Brisbane every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from 11.10am and depart Shanghai every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 9pm (Beijing time) until the peak season starts, on December 8.
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BOOST TO SECOND CHINA SERVICE
China Southern Airlines will be boosting its four weekly flights to Brisbane (from November 17) to a daily service across China’s peak travel season from December 8, 2023, to February 25, 2024.
“This increase by China Southern has occurred at breathtaking pace. It’s still weeks from landing its first flight in Brisbane since the pandemic but to see demand so strong this early is good news for Queensland’s economy,” said Gert-Jan de Graaff.
Before COVID-19, China was Queensland’s leading source of international visitors as 497,000 Chinese travellers spent just over $1.61 billion.
“The 2032 Games are playing a key role in this market right now. Chinese visitors view hosting an Olympics and Paralympic Games as an important marker of status for a city. It’s very symbolic and something we can’t talk up too highly in this region because it cuts through,” de Graaff said.
“This is terrific news for Queensland tourism operators,” said Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe.
“China Southern’s commitment to daily seasonal flights shows the strong demand for Queensland holidays ahead of November’s reconnection of mainland China with Brisbane.
“Bringing daily flights online for the traditional Chinese New Year travel season delivers many more opportunities for Chinese visitors to discover Queensland’s great lifestyle.
“Daily seasonal flights are a critical step in re-establishing year-round, seven-day-a-week services from China and building TEQ’s blueprint for an $11 billion visitor economy by 2032.”
China Southern’s four weekly flights start from November 17 out of Guangzhou and become daily services from December 8, 2023, to February 25, 2024.
China Southern will operate the new generation Airbus A350 aircraft to Brisbane, which has been designed to be 50% quieter with 25% less fuel burn and CO2 emissions per seat compared to previous generation aircraft.