Virgin Australia announces new international route from Tokyo to Cairns
Virgin Australia is flying high after announcing its newest international route - and there are cheap airfares to be had.
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Virgin Australia is flying high after announcing its newest international route, a daily flight from Cairns to Tokyo – and there are cheap airfares to be had.
The year-round direct flight will see passengers able to travel directly from Cairns to Tokyo (Haneda) on a daily basis from June 28, 2023, subject to regulatory approval.
Virgin Australia Group CEO Jayne Hrdlicka said the announcement of the new service wrapped up a huge year for the airline, which has significantly expanded its short-haul international network over the last year.
“Virgin Australia is a proud Queensland company and we’re delighted to add over 2000 seats between these iconic destinations every week which means more value and choice for Australians wanting to travel to Japan,” she said.
“Importantly, it also means welcoming more Japanese tourists into the Sunshine State to enjoy our unrivalled natural wonders like the Great Barrier Reef and Whitsunday Islands.
“We know the Japanese market is hugely important to trade and tourism in Far North Queensland and the Sunshine State and our service will result in more international visitors arriving in Cairns every year, having a positive impact on the state’s economy.”
To further bolster flight access between Australia and Japan, Virgin Australia will strengthen its strategic partnership with All Nippon Airways (ANA).
Tourism Tropical North Queensland CEO Mark Olsen said the connection to Tokyo’s Haneda Airpot was key to growing international travel to Cairns.
“Our tourism industry is very excited about this connection as are our Japanese trade partners who sell Cairns as the closest gateway to Australia with just one-hour time difference and summer all year round,” Mr Olsen said.
Consul-General Masuo Ono, Consulate of Japan in Brisbane, said he was delighted to be in Cairns for the announcement.
“Cairns and Far North Queensland remain very popular with Japanese tourists every year into the region, providing a much-needed lift for the industry, and strengthening ties between Queensland and Japan,” Mr Ono said.
To celebrate the announcement, Virgin Australia has launched a Hello Tokyo sale, with return fares from as low as $699, on sale until midnight December 20 or until sold out.
The highly anticipated route, operating for the first time, is being launched in partnership with the Queensland Government and Cairns Airport though the Queensland Government’s Attracting Aviation Investment Fund.
Virgin Australia currently operates more than 150 services in and out of Cairns domestic airport every week.
Since international borders reopened 12 months ago, the airline has resumed flights to Bali, Fiji, Queenstown, with Vanuatu, Samoa and Tokyo commencing in the first half of 2023.
$70m boost for Far North
The new Cairns-Japan service courtesy of Virgin Australia will bring a $70m boost for the Far North in what is expected to be a “game-changer” for the region.
Cairns Airport CEO Richard Barker, Virgin Australia CEO Jayne Hrdlicka and Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe will come together today to announce and celebrate year-round, daily direct flights between Tokyo Haneda and Cairns.
“When another full-service carrier stopped its direct services to Japan in 2009, Japanese visitation into Cairns decreased dramatically,” Mr Barker said.
“Data shows us that large numbers of Japanese tourists visit Tropical North Queensland when a full-service carrier, like Virgin Australia, offers direct flights to Tokyo Haneda.”
Member for Cairns and Assistant Tourism Minister Michael Healy said the service would bring more than 30,000 visitors directly to Cairns in the first year alone, Mr Hinchliffe said re-establishing direct flights to Cairns from Japan was “high on our agenda”.
“We estimate this service each year will generate $70 million in overnight visitor expenditure in Queensland and provide 680 direct and indirect jobs,” he said.
The service will be a step forward in the airport’s recovery from the pandemic, with Mr Barker calling it a “game-changer”.
“Virgin Australia is also in partnership with All Nippon Airways, a trusted global carrier favoured by Japanese travellers. This powerful partnership will further encourage Japanese visitors to Cairns,” Mr Barker said.
“It is also further evidence that long range, narrow body aircraft such as the Boeing 737-8 are game changers for our region, bringing destinations such as Japan closer with more cost effective and fuel-efficient operations.”
Prior to the pandemic, the valuable Japanese market delivered 112,000 Japanese into the region each year.
Tourism Tropical North Queensland CEO Mark Olsen said in addition to leisure travel, the service would open up the potential for the business events market, as well as trade
and investment.
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Originally published as Virgin Australia announces new international route from Tokyo to Cairns
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