AUSTRALIA. In a potentially huge boost to Australian travel retail, China Southern Airlines is to restart its flight programme from China to Brisbane Airport. The initial schedule will involve four flights a week, with a plan in place to eventually operate daily services.
The announcement comes after the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, as reported, last week released its updated list of countries and regions to which Chinese tourism agencies can run group tours. It included Australia, Japan, South Korea, the UK and the US, among others.
The news will be particularly welcomed by incumbent Brisbane Airport duty free retailer Lotte Duty Free and whichever company (Lotte or any other bidder) wins the airport’s duty free tender, set to be awarded soon.
Visitors from China were the biggest tourism spenders in Brisbane state Queensland before the COVID-19 pandemic, contributing A$1.61 billion (US$1.04 billion) in tourism revenues.
China has been dubbed the largest missing link in travel recovery since the global health crisis forced the cancellation of direct flights in 2020.
The reinstated services are expected to land almost 278,000 inbound seats to Brisbane, generate almost A$441 million (US$285.5 million) for the tourism economy and create up to 1,790 jobs in Queensland over the next three years.
Brisbane Airport Chief Executive Officer Gert-Jan de Graaff has just returned from Guangzhou following personal negotiations with China Southern Airlines. He said: “Currently more than half of Queensland’s visitors from China are forced to fly via Sydney or Melbourne and the rest are coming via destinations like Singapore and Hong Kong. Today’s announcement will restore Queensland’s direct connection to our most lucrative market.
“No single country has a bigger impact on Queensland’s tourism industry as China. We welcome China Southern Airlines back to the BNE family and the thousands of tourists who will follow and the good jobs they’ll support across Queensland.
“The timing is perfect with the announcement on Thursday by the Chinese government that it will allow travel agencies in China to book outbound group travel to Australia.”
China Southern has been the largest airline in Asia by fleet size and the largest in China by number of passengers carried. Its services to Brisbane will depart from the airline’s hub in Guangzhou.
It was the first Chinese airline to have launched flight services to Brisbane in 2010 before the flight programme was halted, as COVID-19 led to closed borders.
Prior to the pandemic, the airline carried the most Chinese arrivals into the state.
As of now, passenger traffic from China has reached 12% of the pre-pandemic level. The country is also a major source of international students.
Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said: “Securing China Southern from Guangzhou is a game changer and an incredibly important step in rebuilding Queensland’s international visitor economy after the pandemic.
“Queensland is Australia’s favourite holiday destination and we’re keen to see Chinese travellers falling in love all over again with our awe-inspiring visitor experiences.
“China is crucial to Tourism and Events Queensland’s blueprint for growing an A$11 billion international visitor economy on our runway to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
China Southern Airlines Regional General Manager Australia & NZ Jason Sun added: “The resumption of this flight is a testament to the valuable support provided by the Queensland Government and Brisbane Airport to China Southern Airlines and showcases our shared vision for the future.
“Through this collaboration, China Southern Airlines aims to further expand the ‘Canton Route’ and, in turn, contribute to the influx of tourists from China as well as business and leisure travellers from other parts of the globe to Queensland.” ✈
