New international destination great news for Queensland travellers

Brisbane Airport has locked in its 33rd international flight route, which could see fares slashed for travellers heading to Asia and beyond.

Brisbane Airport has locked in its 33rd international flight route – equalling the pre-Covid record in a move which could see fares slashed for travellers heading to Asia and beyond.

Malaysian Airlines on Friday announced the resumption of flights between Brisbane and Kuala Lumpur and while the Asian nation is not a huge source of visitors for Queensland, it is one of the world’s busiest transport hubs, with the gateway estimated to deliver more than $50 million to the Sunshine State economy in the first year alone.

Those numbers will make good reading for the Queensland tourism industry, but the deal, secured through the Attracting Aviation Investment Fund, will also be great news for outbound travellers eager to head to Asia or Europe.

Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur’s famous Petronas Towers are now within easy reach of Brisbane with the announcement of a new flight deal. Picture: istock

Flights will start on November 29 with some of the cheapest long haul fares on the market including Paris from $1449 return, London from $1639 return and Chiang Mai in Thailand from $749 return.

Flights to Europe and the US were regularly more than $2000 a year ago, but the increased competition spawned by the arrival of new players in the market has seen prices plummet.

Brisbane Airport CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff said he was “delighted” to welcome back Malaysian Airlines after more than five years.

“The airline boasts a robust Southeast Asian network, strong connections into Europe, and serves 10 Indian hubs, where demand is growing,” he said.

“Malaysia is Queensland’s seventh largest export destination, and the restoration of non-stop air connections is vital for exporting perishables, including Queensland beef, our top export to Malaysia.

“Kuala Lumpur is the 33rd destination on Brisbane’s international network map, matching our pre-pandemic number for the first time, so it’s a milestone moment.”

Flights from Brisbane to London have become significantly cheaper with the return of more international airlines to Queensland. Picture: supplied

Queensland Trade Minister Ros Bates said the new flights, which will add 75,000 inbound seats to the state capital, would be a great boost for tourism and business.

“Additional seats mean additional visitors, and Queensland is ready to welcome them with open arms,” she said.

“Whether it’s adventure tourism like snorkelling or mountain bike riding, or enjoying nature on our fantastic beaches, or the wonderful rainforests of the Tropical North – there’s something for everyone.

“We’ll also be sending those plane cargo holds back to Asia, and on to Europe, filled with the very best of Queensland exports, so it’s a great economic win for our state.”

Brisbane Airport Ambassador co-ordinator Nita Palencia celebrates news of direct flights from Brisbane to KL. Picture: Annette Dew

Datuk Captain Izham Ismail, Group Managing Director of Malaysia Aviation Group, said the resumption of Brisbane flights was a significant connection for the network.

“This route reaffirms our commitment to connecting travellers seamlessly across our extensive network through Kuala Lumpur – positioning Malaysia Airlines as the Gateway to Asia and beyond,” he said.

Flights to and from KL will take place five times a week initially with scope for services to ramp up in the future.

Malaysia’s exotic Langkawi Island is now within easy reach of Brisbane thanks to a new airline deal offering direct flights from Brisbane to Kuala Lumpur. Picture: supplied.

While the Malaysian route equals the all-time record for international destinations out of Brisbane, flights are yet to resume to Abu Dhabi, Brunei, Dunedin, Hawaii and Shenzhen in China.

However, those routes have been offset by new ones including Dallas, Qatar, Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam, Osaka and Palau.

The Attracting Aviation Investment Fund is a transport war chest jointly-funded between the Queensland Government and the state’s international airports.

Originally published as New international destination great news for Queensland travellers