Cathay Pacific extends direct seasonal flights to Cairns from Hong Kong

Following a successful seasonal service linking Cairns and Hong Kong, a five-star Asian carrier will extend direct flights this summer to bring an $18m boost to the Far North economy.

A Cathay Pacific Airbus A330 jet plane takes off from Cairns International Airport on a flight bound for Hong Kong. Picture: Brendan Radke

Following a successful seasonal service linking Cairns and Hong Kong, a five-star Asian carrier will extend direct flights this summer to bring an $18m boost to the Far North economy.

In December 2024, after a five-year absence, Cathay Pacific put on a new seasonal service aboard a two-class configured Airbus A330 which wrapped up in March.

On Saturday Cairns Airport announced that Cathay Pacific would again operate three direct flights per week between Hong Kong and Cairns from December 9 to February 28.

The second summer service since the airline pulled year-round flights in 2019 due to the service not being financially viable, is expected to take advantage of peak Lunar New Year and Christmas holiday travel.

TTNQ chief executive Mark Olsen, Cairns Airport head of aviation business development, David Nye, Cathay Pacific vice president for customer travel and lifestyle for South-West Pacific, Tom Kennedy, and Barron River MP Bree James celebrate the return of Cathay Pacific to Cairns in December last year.

Cairns Airport chief executive officer Richard Barker said the renewed seasonal service would build on last year’s success.

“The Cathay Pacific brand is highly regarded across tropical North Queensland and we are thrilled our strengthened partnership has led to further, ongoing opportunities that will benefit our wider community and key industries,” Mr Barker said.

“This is a new era in our relationship with Cathay Pacific and a major coup for our region.”

The service will deliver more than 20,000 seats throughout the season in a much-needed boost to international passenger arrivals that have failed to match pre-Covid levels, according to the airport.

Earlier this year visitor numbers to Cairns revealed the Far North was only 60 per cent recovered in terms of international holiday-maker arrivals despite offshore arrivals expected to hit a 17-year high this year.

The shortfall is due to the vast majority of foreign visitors flying into Cairns from capital city airports.

In April there were 25,455 international arrivals through the T1 terminal in a complete U-turn on the zero passengers who arrived in April 2021 but the number represented a drop in the 35,739 passengers who touched down in January this year during the peak of the first Cathay seasonal service.

Max, 6, Ellie, 4, and Jessica Mizzi were among the first passengers on Cathay Pacific's return to Cairns in December 2024.

Mr Barker said Cathay Group flights from Hong Kong, aboard Cathay Pacific and low-cost carrier HK Express, would continue to open up 100 destinations worldwide within the first half of 2025 for Cairns passengers planning an overseas trip.

Cathay regional general manager of the Southwest Pacific region, Frosti Lau, said he was pleased to see the service return after a successful first season.

“Our Cairns seasonal service saw close to 16,000 customers travel between the two cities and beyond, including the UK, the Chinese mainland and elsewhere in Asia,” he said.

“Equally as important is our freighter support for local businesses where we proudly transport live seafood, fresh produce and more.”

Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief executive officer Mark Olsen said the extended service would boost international visitation from the Chinese mainland and Europe during the region’s quieter months.

“Tourism Tropical North Queensland has undertaken extensive marketing activities in China and Europe over the past two years to drive demand for direct services, including the seasonal Cathay Pacific flights,” he said.

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Originally published as Cathay Pacific extends direct seasonal flights to Cairns from Hong Kong