Written by ANDREW KACIMAIWAI
Singapore Airlines (SIA) has upgraded its service to Cairns by using the widebody Airbus A350-900 medium haul aircraft.
Regional Vice-President for South West Pacific, Louis Arul said the upgrade to a larger aircraft on the Singapore-Cairns route showed the airline’s confidence in Tropical North Queensland.
“The introduction of the Airbus A350 is a significant investment in the future of this direct major tourism and cargo route, reflecting our confidence in North Queensland’s tourism and trade market,” he said.
“The new service builds on the almost 10-year history of the SIA Group in Cairns. We are delighted to deliver around 23,000 extra seats as well as an additional almost 2,500 tonnes of cargo capacity per year to North Queensland exporters.”
Cairns Airport Chief Executive Officer Richard Barker welcomed the new services and increased passenger and cargo capacity for Tropical North Qld.
“For more than 610,000 international visitors expected this year, including 80,000 travelling via Singapore, Cairns Airport is the gateway to world-class natural attractions, unique cultural experiences and countless tourism opportunities across Tropical North Queensland,” he said.
“Singapore Airlines already supports 13 per cent of international demand for Cairns travellers, and the new services and increased cargo capacity are a welcome investment in the continuing growth of regional tourism.”
Qld Tourism Minister Michael Healy said the new service was another successful outcome of the $200 million joint state government-industry Attracting Aviation Investment Fund.
“Singapore Airlines bringing the A350 widebody aircraft into Cairns is such an important link to our traditional long-haul markets; we’re talking the US, we’re talking Europe and Asia,” he said.
“This increased capacity also provides huge opportunities for our agricultural and aquaculture industries to sell directly into these markets. What that means is we can make flights more economically viable. If we can fill the bottom of those planes with fresh produce, and fill the top of them with travellers, it will guarantee that route for a very, very long time.”
“There is strong interest in this route from European travellers who have been constrained by seat capacity, which has now increased by 50 per cent.”
Tourism Tropical North Queensland Chief Executive Officer Mark Olsen
Tourism Tropical North Queensland Chief Executive Officer Mark Olsen welcomed the arrival of the A350 service, which would bring a $26.5 million boost to the region’s economy.
“The more than 8300 business class seats a year on the Singapore Airlines flights to Cairns will attract high-value travellers including the all-important business events sector which brings even stronger economic benefits to the destination,” he said.
“There is strong interest in this route from European travellers who have been constrained by seat capacity, which has now increased by 50 per cent.”
The SQ 204 Cairns-Singapore service will operate four times a week — Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays — departing Cairns at 18:15 and arriving in Singapore at 22:40 local time. The SQ203 Singapore-Cairns service will operate four times a week — Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays — departing Singapore at 8.40 and arriving in Cairns at 17:00 local time.
Tasman Aircraft 