Cairns Post Articles - Jetstar & Virgin Ramp Up Flights

Within the past week the Cairns Post has reported on two major developments concerning the largest industry in Far North Queensland - Tourism. In relative terms, Tourism produces double the annual revenue turnover of agriculture, the second largest industry in the Far North (let me know if you might like further information regarding Cairns' industries via the 'Contact' page).

On April 1 Jetstar plans to add four extra flights from Melbourne per week to their schedule and Virgin Australia have followed with the announcement that they will be adding six extra flights from Brisbane per week to their own schedule.

Click to enlarge

Ten extra domestic flights per week have the potential to add up to 100,000 visitors to Cairns each year. It is important to understand what this number of added arrivals means to the region - the graph opposite shows the number of tourism arrivals in Cairns throughout the past 10 years.

The trend level for domestic tourism arrivals in Cairns currently sits at approximately 260,000 visitors per year. That means that the new flights planned by major airlines within the past week have the potential to increase this number by more than almost 140%.

International arrivals remain on an unpredictable trend caused by unstable global economic conditions and the high Australian dollar making Cairns and Far North Queensland an expensive destination. Any improvement in tourist numbers however, either domestic or international, will be welcomed by local businesses in particular hospitality, accommodation and tour service operators.

Cairns Post report of Jetstars additional flights on Jan 24:

Jetstar adds extra Cairns to Melbourne flights

LOW-cost carrier Jetstar has added four more flights a week from Melbourne with the potential to bring an extra 37,440 passengers a year into Cairns.

The airline said with the extra four A320 flights a week there would now be 25 services from Melbourne.

The new flights are due to start on April 1.

The route is one of the fastest growing in Australia.

Last year, Jetstar passengers spent an estimated $112 million in the Far North.

The increased flights come as Jetstar bases its 13th A320 aircraft in Victoria.

Jetstar Group chief executive officer Bruce Buchanan said the additional capacity was part of the airline’s commitment to affordable domestic and overseas travel.

Read full article here

Report of Virgin Australia’s additional flights on Jan 27:

Extra Cairns flights, potential for extra 100,000 visitors

VIRGIN Australia is adding six extra flights between Cairns and Brisbane each week with the potential to bring more than 56,000 additional travellers a year to the Far North.

It follows Jetstar’s decision earlier this week to increase its services from Melbourne by four weekly flights.

The additional flights by the two airlines add nearly 100,000 seats a year from the southern capitals.

The extra Virgin return flights, from February 13, will be every day except Saturday, arriving at 1.20pm and departing for Brisbane at 1.50pm.

It takes the total number of Virgin Australia flights between Brisbane and Cairns each week to 80. The route is the 10th busiest in Australia with nearly 100,000 passengers a year.

Virgin says demand has sparked the extra flights.

Virgin Australia alliances, network and yield group executive Merren McArthur said the additional flights were part of an accelerated capacity growth plan for major corporate, resources sector and leisure routes.

Read full article here

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