Cathay Pacific – Hong Kong to Brisbane four services growing to six services per week
Flights between Hong Kong and Brisbane are set to increase under an agreement between Brisbane Airport and Cathay Pacific supported through the Queensland Government’s Attracting Aviation Investment Fund (AAIF).
Cathay Pacific has been flying between Hong Kong and Brisbane four days per week since June, with this expected to grow to six services per week from December 2023.
With the increased capacity, the services are expected to deliver up to 76,440 inbound seats in the first year of operation and support up to 840 Queensland jobs. The new flight schedule is predicted to generate almost $158 million for the visitor economy over two years.
Cathay Pacific is among 24 international services supported through Queensland’s nation-leading $200 million AAIF.
From the 24 supported services, the combined AAIF investment between the Queensland Government, airports and tourism organisations is forecast to deliver more than 1.81 million inbound international seats, up to $1.35 billion in overnight visitor expenditure annually and support up to 16,776 Queensland jobs.
Hong Kong has traditionally been one of Asia’s most important aviation hubs for Australia, with connections to markets in Europe, the United Kingdom, China and India.
Yesterday's announcement was made during a visit to Sunshine Coast business Walker Seafoods, which is keen to tap into the export opportunities set to flow from the increased Cathay Pacific flights.
Walker Seafoods employs 50 local staff and is a leading supplier of seafood in the region. The company is now exploring potential overseas markets via the Hong Kong connection.
The announcement is yet another step towards international travel and trade returning to pre-pandemic levels. The additional flights are a result of the partnerships supported through the AAIF which brings together airlines, airports, regional tourism organisations and tourism operators.
Not only will this be a great opportunity for travellers coming to Queensland via the Hong Kong hub, but also provides an additional market for suitable businesses to consider.
Hong Kong students and their families will also welcome the increased flight options. Currently around 20 per cent of total international enrolments at Australia’s education and training institutes are from Hong Kong.”
Sandeep Pillay, Cathay Pacific Acting Regional Manager Southwest Pacific said Brisbane is a key port for Cathay Pacific for both cargo and travel services.
“The support from the Queensland Government and Brisbane Airport is hugely valued as we increase our service from Brisbane to Hong Kong and beyond.”
Gert-Jan de Graaff, CEO of Brisbane Airport Corporation said:
“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.”
Heidi Walker from Walker Seafoods said the business had been hamstrung trying to get their 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,” she said.
“More flights through Brisbane means we can export more, which means more employment for our staff here on the Sunshine Coast.”
Read more about other deals through the Attracting Aviation investment Fund (AAIF).