South Australia inks deal to begin direct flights from Adelaide to China
DIRECT flights from Adelaide to China will begin as soon as December, the State Government announced today.
DIRECT flights from Adelaide to China will begin as soon as December, the State Government announced today.
The government has reached an in-principle deal with China Southern Airlines for direct flights from and to Guangzhou three times a week.
South Australia has contributed an unspecified amount to securing the deal.
The airline will operate an A330 offering first, business, premium economy and economy classes.
Premier Jay Weatherill said a direct flight from China will create jobs that extend beyond the airport.
“This is incredibly exciting news for South Australia, having three direct flights from the most populous region, the region with the most international connections with the world, one of the great hubs of the world, for not only tourism but also trade is an extraordinary boon for South Australia’s economy,” he said
“Tourism is one of South Australia’s key economic drivers which is why the State Government committed another $35m over two years in the 16/17 State Budget.
“The Chinese visitor is actually our most valuable visitor, they actually spend more and they stay longer then other visitors and it’s largely due to the student population.”
“This region is the part of China which is most internationalised, it reaches out to Hong Kong and also to the broader region around it.
“This plane isn’t just about putting visitors in to and fro from our regions as important as that is, it’s also about putting goods into the belly of the plane, our premium food and wine.”
It will be the first time a direct route from Adelaide to mainland China has been available.
The government said the deal would create 135 jobs and deliver benefits for local hotels, restaurants and tourism operators.
The final agreement will be signed in Guangzhou later this week.
In April, the State Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with China Southern to promote tourism between South Australia and China.
China Southern is the world’s sixth largest airline and China was South Australia’s fourth largest tourism market in the 12 months to March, 2016.
The airline operates about 260 international flights to 72 destinations in China and around the world.
Currently Cathay Pacific operates flights via Hong Kong.
With the addition of China Southern, four new international routes have begun flying out of
Adelaide since 2011.
Qatar Airways started operating daily flights from Adelaide in May this year.
Australian Hotels Association SA chief Ian Horne said the completed deal “will immediately elevate and increase confidence in Adelaide as a viable and appealing destination to invest in terms of attracting the next generation of international style accommodation”.
South Australia hosted 34,000 Chinese tourists un the 12 months to March, a 2.4 per cent increase on the same time for the previous year.
SATC CEO Rodney Harrex said the goal was for 54,000 by 2020.
He said the deal will drive international student numbers to South Australia.
“We’ve got 11,000 Chinese students here in Adelaide at the moment,” he said. “To March this year, that grew by over 30 per cent, this is a real opportunity to bring students their families come, it brings investment - this is a real multiplier through our economy.”
Adelaide Airport general manager Mark Young said the in-principle agreement was the result of many years of business and strategic development.
“It is a particularly important announcement in terms of having a direct service to mainland china, the movement of passengers but more importantly the movement of freight and trade will benefit substantially from this announcement,” he said.
He said a business delegation to Guangzhou in May this year led by Mr Weatherill had “materially advanced” the status of negotiations.