- Cathay Pacific services from Hong Kong direct to Brisbane to increase from four to six per week from December.
- Landing 76,440 inbound seats to Brisbane in the first year, backed by the Palaszczuk Government's $200 million aviation war chest partnership with Queensland international airports.
- Cathay Pacific services are predicted to add almost $158 million to the visitor economy over two years and support for 840 jobs.
Cathay Pacific is expanding from four to six direct services per week from Hong Kong to Brisbane International Airport from December 2023.
Cathay Pacific's growth is backed by the Palaszczuk Government's $200 million Attracting Aviation Investment Fund (AAIF) with Queensland's international airports.
Cathay Pacific's increased frequency will land 76,440 seats in Brisbane over the first year of operation and support for 840 good Queensland jobs.
The new flight schedule is predicted generate almost $158 million for the visitor economy over two years.
Hong Kong is a strategic aviation hub with direct connections to key Queensland visitor source markets including the UK, Europe, India and China.
Sunshine Coast business Walker Seafoods is a potential beneficiary of Cathay Pacific's extra 50 tonnes of airfreight capacity a week from Brisbane to Hong Kong.
Employing 50 Queensland workers, Walker Seafoods is exploring new international markets.
During 2021-22, $157 million in Queensland fresh food, pharmaceutical and manufactured goods exports were airlifted to Hong Kong.
The $200 million Attracting Aviation Investment fund has secured 24 international services, delivering more than 1.81 million inbound seats a year, $1.35 billion for the State's visitor economy and 16,800 good jobs.
Quotes attributable to Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe:
"The Palaszczuk Government's $200 million war chest is backing Cathay Pacific's Queensland expansion, which is tipped to generate almost $158 million over two years for the visitor economy and 840 good jobs.
"Cathay Pacific demonstrates the benefits of our nation leading $200 million aviation partnership with Queensland airports reach beyond the visitor economy.
"As an aviation super hub, Hong Kong is a strategic connection for overseas visitors and international students discovering Queensland's great lifestyle, as well as the State's exporters.
"Cathay Pacific's extra outbound airfreight capacity delivers new international opportunities for exporters like Sunshine Coast-based Walker Seafoods.
"Whether it's our world-class seafood or pharmaceuticals, increasing airfreight into Hong Kong and beyond supports local exporters to grow and create more good Queensland jobs."
Quotes attributable to Sandeep Pillay, Cathay Pacific Acting Regional Manager Southwest Pacific:
"Brisbane is a key port for Cathay Pacific for both our cargo and travel services, so it's with great pleasure that we're increasing our flight schedule.
"The support from the Queensland Government and Brisbane Airport is hugely valued as we increase our service from Brisbane to Hong Kong and beyond."
Quotes attributable to Gert-Jan de Graaff, CEO of Brisbane Airport Corporation:
"The link between Brisbane and Hong Kong is one of the region's most critical for Queensland exports, and this will deliver money into the pockets of rural producers across the state, as well as local seafood companies, and of course tourism operators.
"This week, 41 years ago, we celebrated the arrival of the very first Cathay Pacific 747 to Brisbane. And today we celebrate the expansion of this service as we slowly build back to full pre-COVID flight schedule."
Quotes attributable to Heidi Walker from Walker Seafoods:
"We've been hamstrung trying to get our exports onto planes due to the limited capacity. We don't like trucking to Sydney, it's not good for the product, it's not reliable and it adds a long time and cost to the trip.
"More flights through Brisbane means we can export more, which means more employment for our staff here on the Sunshine Coast."
