High stakes bid could see return of $40m tourist spend

It’s hoped a high-level delegation meeting in Hong Kong can bring about the resumption of direct flights to Cairns on board a five-star airline following the exit of the carrier in 2019.

It’s hoped a high-level delegation meeting in Hong Kong can bring about the resumption of direct flights to Cairns on board five-star airline Cathay Pacific, following the exit of the carrier from the Far North in 2019.

Assistant Minister for Tourism Industry Development and Cairns MP Michael

Healy will lead the delegation, and will showcase products from the region to Cathay

Pacific executives.

The delegation’s proposal includes the temporary introduction of a weekly freighter service later this year, transitioning to a passenger service in late 2024.

A Cathay Pacific jet plane from Hong Kong comes in to land at the Cairns International Airport in 2019. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

The Cathay Pacific departure devastated a multimillion-dollar export industry that was brought to its knees by the sudden loss of its chief transporter in 2019.

If the proposal is successful Far North Queensland exporters would benefit significantly, supported through the recently opened Cairns Regional Trade Distribution Centre, which provides temperature controlled forwarding facilities for exporters.

Mr Healey hoped showcasing the region’s world class products to Cathay Pacific executives would result in a successful proposal.

Cairns MP Michael Healy, Cairns Airport CEO Richard Barker, managing director Air Freight Handling Cairns Barbara Ford, and Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick cut the ribbon of the Cairns Regional Trade Distribution Centre in March.

In 2018 Cathay Pacific manager on duty Cynthia Lee retired a year before the airline withdrew from the Cairns Hong Kong route after 41 years with the carrier. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

“Everyone is working hard to have flights resume and that includes the airline themselves who have been open and available to discuss options,” he said.

“This is delegation is a great opportunity to get even more international flights into Cairns.”

Advance Cairns, Cairns Airport and Trade and Investment Queensland are part of the delegation to Hong Kong, a region which at the last count received $400m in Queensland exports.

The first Cathay Pacific flight to arrive at Cairns Airport in 1993. Picture: Cairns Airport

Pre-Covid in 2019 the number of inbound seats into Queensland from Hong Kong totalled 288,032 and into Cairns the number totalled 38,905.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said direct flights would be a significant boost for both tourism and trade opportunities for local industry.

“Everyone knows what a strong advocate Michael Healy is for his region. That’s why I’ve asked him to lead this important delegation to Hong Kong,” she said.

“That’s not only going to be good for exporters, it’s also going to be good for tourism and the amazing Cairns region.”

Cathay Pacific could return to the Cairns Airport if a high-level delegation to Hong Kong is successful. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

Trade and Investment Minister Cameron Dick said resumption of Cathay Pacific flights would make the most of the recently opened $10m investment in the Regional Trade Distribution Centre.

“We need FNQ exporters to have access to direct belly hold capacity into Asia,” he said.

The reasoning behind Cathay’s decision to end direct flight to and from Hong Kong remained unclear at the time but lost expenditure generated by visitors was estimated to be worth $35-$40m per annum.

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Originally published as High stakes bid could see return of $40m tourist spend