AUSTRALIA. China Southern Airlines has relaunched flight services to Brisbane Airport after four years of pandemic-related travel restrictions.
The move spells good news for Brisbane Airport’s retailers, including Lotte Duty Free.
Reconnecting Queensland with China’s key gateway of Guangzhou, the airline will begin flying with four weekly flights and launch daily services on 8 December to respond to the peak season travel demand.
Guangzhou is the 28th international destination now serviced directly from Brisbane Airport.
China was the top source market for Queensland before the pandemic, accounting for almost one in five international visitors and bringing in A$1.6 billion in overnight visitor spending in 2019.
The airport expects China Southern Airlines to bring in 277,896 visitors over the next three years, delivering A$440 million to the visitor economy and generating 1,790 Queensland jobs.
The first flight carried large groups of Chinese visitors travelling under the Approved Destination Status scheme to arrive directly in Queensland.
Brisbane Airport CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff said: “Today’s arrival supercharges the inbound Chinese tourism market, creating good jobs right here in Queensland.
“Not only do we celebrate the return of China Southern Airlines, but with it, the very first direct group arrivals from China into Queensland since the pandemic. It is the group travel market and their itineraries that will deliver large numbers of tourists from China into this state’s regions including the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and of course the Great Barrier Reef is a huge magnet.
“This is also a restored route for Queensland’s exports to make their way to one of the world’s largest markets.
“This new service is also more modern. The A350 that landed today is designed to be quieter and use 25% less fuel burn and CO2 emissions per seat compared to previous generation aircraft used by China Southern in 2019.”
The resumption of China Southern flights is one of 26 deals negotiated as part of the Attracting Aviation Investment Fund in partnership with Queensland’s four international airports. Combined, the 26 services are estimated to support nearly 20,000 Queensland jobs and A$1.6 billion in annual visitor spending.
Tourism Innovation and Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said: “Today’s return of China Southern Airlines to Brisbane puts traction on the runway for fast-tracking the rebuild of Queensland’s international visitor economy.
“China Southern reconnects Queensland with 169 cities in 39 countries who fly direct to Guangzhou’s international aviation hub, making this a strategic aviation service for recovery.
“It marks the official restart of organised travel groups from China, which is terrific news for Queensland’s world-class tourism operators from the border to the Cape.
“China Southern is an important driver for industry predictions of a resurgence in Chinese visitors enjoying Queensland’s great lifestyle and supporting thousands of good local jobs in 2024.”
China Southern Airlines Regional General Manager Australia & NZ Jason Sun added: “This is an exciting moment with the resumption of flights from Guangzhou to Brisbane. Today is a testament to the valuable support provided by the Queensland Government and Brisbane Airport.
“Through strong collaboration, China Southern Airlines aims to further expand the Canton Route and contribute to the influx of tourists from China as well as business and leisure travellers from other parts of the globe to Queensland. We also look forward to welcoming Aussies to China.” ✈
