Cairns travellers warned of challenges amid full offshore airline reboot
Travel insiders warn Cairns holiday-makers to expect the unexpected as international airlines reboot favourite routes. But Cairns Airport is already sizing up fresh destinations.
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TRAVEL insiders have warned Cairns holiday-makers to expect the unexpected with the complicated resumption of flights to destinations like Japan and Bali.
Last week Jetstar resumed four-weekly Cairns-Narita service and from Tuesday the airline will add the first of three weekly Cairns-Osaka flights.
The aviation industry was optimistic Japan’s tourist travel restrictions would be lifted, however concern about a third Covid wave has meant the retention of limited travel.
Holiday-makers still need to book on a tour and be supervised before being permitted entry to Japan.
In a blow for wary post-Covid travellers, Far North travel agent Ida Portella said Japanese restrictions may not be relaxed until September.
“People are planning for December and January so it’s really hard for people to book in advance,” she said.
“I have not been selling a lot (of Japan packages) and the main reason is the restrictions.
“People are a little bit nervous. For some people it has been three years since they have travelled.
“People want security and want to know they will get to where they are going.”
Cairns Airport chief executive Richard Barker said the easing of Japan restrictions was expected before the end-of-year holiday period.
“Airports and tourism bodies are expecting an announcement within the next few months,” he said.
“The resumption of international routes shows a growing confidence in overseas travel, which is positive for both holiday-makers and the aviation industry.
“We know that Far North residents will be looking forward to once again visiting Japan and its attractions.”
The airport has advised travellers to check their travel eligibility before booking.
Jetstar remains hopeful of restriction-free two-way travel between Cairns and Japan and expects demand to bounce back when borders open.
While Cairns locals have hit pause on an Asian getaway, thousands of passengers expected to arrive in the region each week from seven direct Japan flights have offered a real opportunity to shake off the doldrums of the pandemic through increased tourism arrivals.
“(Japan) flights also present an opportunity for passengers from Melbourne and Sydney to travel through Cairns to Japan,” Mr Barker said.
“Domestic throughput at Cairns Airport has exceeded pre-pandemic 2019 levels as travellers enjoy holidaying in the Far North.
“And we do expect an increase in tourists and students from Japan, which is a welcome and significant sign for our region.”
But the airport expects a “soft” demand on board outgoing flights to Japan while restrictions remain.
Singapore Airlines began operating five Cairns-Singapore flights a week in May and Air New Zealand operates three direct flights between Auckland and Cairns each week.
But with direct Jetstar flights to Bali between Cairns and Denpasar cancelled from September until December the Cairns Airport is checking out other destinations.
“Internationally, our recovery is based on our core markets of Singapore, New Zealand and Japan, as well as PNG, and these services are all now back on our route map,” Mr Barker said.
“With aircraft technology evolving we see more markets in Asia being accessible such as Vietnam and South Korea, as well as regional ports in Japan.
“We do hold out long term aspirations to see direct services from North America and Europe in the future.”
While travel agent Ms Portella was overwhelmingly positive about an international travel reboot, she warned passengers to expect more hiccups.
“I do understand the post-Covid era can be quite challenging, the consumer needs to understand that,” she said.
“It’s amazing that we have flights back and we don’t want to be negative but it’s just sad that we have an international terminal and we can’t get enough direct flights.
“We want to get people out, people want to go but we wish that (airlines) will commit to delivering.”
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