Singapore Airlines adds extra flights connecting Cairns with Europe and Asia

An international airline has added extra flights into and out of Cairns linking the airport with one of the world’s busiest long distance flight hubs. Read how more planes full of European travellers will be landing in Cairns.

In a boost for Far North tourism, Singapore Airlines has increased its service into Cairns from three to five flights a week.

Singapore is one of the world’s most internationally connected airports and now there will be more flights linking travellers from across the world from the long distance travel hub to Cairns Airport.

Singapore Airlines, which was recently named the world’s best airline in the annual Skytrax awards, has added two new services on its Cairns to Singapore route in response to an increased demand of visitors travelling from Europe and Asia.

Cairns Airport’s manager of aviation business development David Nye said the services would mean more capacity making it easier for travellers to access our region from Europe and would add to the recovery of international travel into Tropical North Queensland.

“In June our international traffic had returned to 77 per cent of pre-Covid traffic so this capacity helps to further get back towards 100 per cent,” he said.

“The flight timings are perfect for European connections during their peak summer holiday period.”

The flights will use a Boeing 737-8 aircraft on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Cairns Airport this week has welcomed an additional two services between Cairns and Singapore with Singapore Airlines. Photo: Cairns Airport

The use of the Boeing 737-8 aircraft follows the trend towards more fuel efficient narrow body aircraft that could be a boon for Cairns due to its closer proximity to key destinations in east Asia.

Mr Nye was tight-lipped when it came to revealing any other new services on the horizon but said they continue to work behind the scenes.

“Nothing firm, but we continue to work with airline partners to grow the Japanese market and build on the current Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand traffic.”

Cairns Airport aviation domestic business manager, David Nye Picture: Supplied

When looking forward for the rest of the year Mr Nye said the outlook was good.

“Recovery to prepandemic levels will continue for international traffic into 2024, however domestic is already at levels above 2019 as Far North Queensland remains popular for domestic travellers and conferences and events continue to drive demand outside of the traditional peaks of school holidays.”

The additional flights come after Virgin Australia launched its direct flights between Cairns and Tokyo’s Haneda Airport last month.

Originally published as Singapore Airlines adds extra flights connecting Cairns with Europe and Asia