Hong Kong’s home carrier Cathay Pacific has made its highly anticipated return to Cairns, a critical first step in rebuilding the region’s valued partnership with the premier airline.
Cathay Pacific will operate three flights per week from Cairns Airport between 17 December 2024 and 29 March 2025, a peak period encompassing both the Christmas and Chinese New Year festive holidays.
The first service – flight CX147 – touched down at 10.30am today before returning to Hong Kong at midday. Passengers received gifts at Cairns Airport and departing travellers were treated to a traditional Chinese lion dance as part of the celebrations.
Cairns Airport Chief Executive Officer Richard Barker said the seasonal service was a significant milestone that would lay the foundation for further opportunities with the well-known and regarded Cathay Pacific brand.
“Just over a year ago, a delegation from Tropical North Queensland visited Cathay Pacific in Hong Kong to discuss the road to their return. Now, we are celebrating the vital first step in reestablishing our long-running partnership. We are thrilled to welcome Cathay Pacific back to Tropical North Queensland,” he said.
“Delivering almost 27,000 seats across the season on the A330 aircraft, these services come at an ideal time for passengers travelling overseas for Christmas and summer holidays and will offer additional connectivity for the thousands of international visitors expected to welcome the 2025 Year of the Snake in Tropical North Queensland.
“Cathay Pacific’s extensive network also offers key opportunities for our local exporters to gain direct access to Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and beyond.”
The Cathay Group’s passenger airlines offer scheduled services to more than 80 destinations worldwide, including 19 in the Chinese Mainland. This is projected to rise to 100 within 2025.
Cathay Regional General Manager Southwest Pacific Frosti Lau said: “We are proud to be bringing our services back to Cairns, connecting locals to Hong Kong and beyond. Offering connections to over 80 destinations around the world, including the UK, Thailand, China and India, locals can experience their dream holiday or travel for business with ease. Promoting tourism into this beautiful part of the world is also a priority and we are pleased to assist in bringing visitors to Cairns to experience the city and Tropical North Queensland.
“In addition, Cathay Pacific is supporting Cairns with cargo capacity, providing a gateway into the Chinese Mainland, Northeast Asia and other major markets around the world. Our team has the expertise to manage deliveries across a range of requests including fresh produce, pharmaceuticals, live animals and dangerous goods – just to name a few – and they are ready to support local businesses.”
Tourism Minister Andrew Powell said the seasonal flights would provide a significant boost for the region.
“The return of Cathay Pacific to Cairns after a five-year absence comes at the perfect time for tourism operators who are counting on bumper summer holiday season after Tropical Cyclone Jasper ruined last Christmas,” he said.
“Passengers from across Asia, the UK and Europe will be able to board a flight direct from Hong Kong into Tropical North Queensland and be out on a boat snorkelling on the reef or riding the Kuranda Railway within hours of touching down.
“Our 20-year tourism plan has a key focus on showcasing Queensland’s natural assets to the world so having more direct flights into regional centres brings new visitors to the state along with international students and their families.”
Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) Group Executive Ollie Philpot said the arrival was a major and welcome milestone for the region.
“TEQ has worked closely with the airline and partners, including Tourism Tropical North Queensland, to drive demand for these seats with marketing in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong and Mainland China and we look forward to a bumper season with these flights,” he said.
Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ) Chief Executive Officer Mark Olsen said the China market would be boosted by the Cathay Pacific flights, which would also help to drive visitation from key Western markets.
“TTNQ’s trade and marketing activities in China have been vigorous, while famils for our trade partners are generating strong interest in our destination,” he said.
“Our China mission with members in September was very successful, meeting with 23 agents and training around 250 product managers and frontline staff across Beijing, Xi’an, Hangzhou, Hong Kong and Guangzhou.
“Through the International Tourism Recovery Program funding, TTNQ has confirmed 28,000 additional visitors from China expected to generate $30 million to the region.
“We are excited to be welcoming the first passengers on Cathay Pacific today knowing that they are an important part of our destination’s recovery in the China market.”
Cairns Airport, TTNQ, the Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport, Advance Cairns and Trade and Investment Queensland were among the delegation led by the Queensland Government who met with Cathay Pacific and key trade partners in Hong Kong in August 2023.