Cairns domestic travel locations on future cards with introduction of Bonza airlines

Domestic direct flights from Cairns can be difficult to find but the city’s airport boss has outlined what places could be on the cards in the future.

The Far North will be a perennial holiday destination for Aussie travellers in the future and direct flights to from the city to key domestic favourites like Tasmania could be on the cards.

Cairns Airport chief executive Richard Barker said priority domestic destinations included Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

But there was plenty of room for growth, he said.

“While also ensuring growth across other destinations such as Adelaide, Perth and Darwin,” he said.

Cairns Airport CEO Richard Barker said priority domestic destinations included Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Picture: Brendan Radke

“The introduction of Bonza airlines later this year and into 2023 will open new markets, primarily to regional centres such as the Sunshine Coast, Mackay and Rockhampton.”

The growth of the market is set to take off as the airport moves towards 2050.

“One notable absence on our route map is a direct service to Tasmania,” Mr Barker said.

“That is an opportunity for us to connect the far north of Australia to the far south.”

Mr Barker said an absence in their route map was a direct service to Tasmania which is an opportunity to connect the far north to the far south. Picture: Brendan Radke

Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief executive Mark Olsen said a new approach was needed to cement Cairns as a year-round domestic destination.

“Previously Australians travelled to Tropical North Queensland in winter and for a Christmas holiday while the remaining parts of the year were filled by international visitors,” he said.

“That worked for a while but with uncertainty around travel and the major disruption brought by the pandemic we need to build year-round domestic visitation.”

Tourism Tropical North Queensland CEO Mark Olsen said a new approach was needed. Picture: Brendan Radke

Mr Olsen said to create a year-round domestic travel environment the region needed to focus on freight, investment and events.

“We need regional connections year-round to major cities like Newcastle, where we currently have seasonal flights, to encourage people from those regions to visit at other times of the year,” he said.

Originally published as Cairns domestic travel locations on future cards with introduction of Bonza airlines