First 777 flies into Wellcamp, departs laden with produce
WAGNER Corporation chairman John Wagner has hailed the arrival of the first Boeing 777 into Wellcamp as a “fantastic day”.
Toowoomba
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WAGNER Corporation chairman John Wagner has hailed the arrival of the first Boeing 777 into Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport as a "fantastic day".
The Cathay Pacific freight flight flew in about 1.25pm yesterday before jetting off for Hong Kong, laden with Darling Downs produce.
Mr Wagner said the service, which will depart weekly for the next six weeks, wouldn't have been possible without the support of Cathay Pacific and the Federal Government.
The Federal Government is supporting the service through the International Freight Assistance Mechanism.
The IFAM is a temporary measure to help restore critical global supply chains which have been heavily impacted by COVID-19.
Yesterday's flight departed with a cargo hold full of chilled produce, milk powder, and some other products, Mr Wagner said.
"But the chilled products are really what we want to see going out of here."
Mr Wagner said the Federal Government was to be applauded "for what they've done and the amount of money they're throwing at airlines to be able to make this happen".
He said while there were currently three freight flights a week out of Wellcamp, he believed in time the airport would see one freight flight a day heading for distant airports.
"We'll keep working till we get that capacity," he said.
Mr Wagner expected the airport to be operating as normal for passenger flights within months.