Low-cost carrier, Jetstar is already planning to connect the Gold Coast to China, but could the airline be considering another new route to bring more Chinese travellers into the Sunshine State?
Cairns Mayor Bob Manning, has hope his city will be the next to receive low-cost operations to the booming country and says the possibility was raised during recent talks with Qantas CEO, Alan Joyce.
The Mayor explained that before flights from the city could be considered, a lot of work would be need to be done to convince the carrier that flying from the city is worth the risk, Cairns Post reported.
“We’d have to work with Jetstar and Alan Joyce said he would support that.”
Bob Manning, Cairns Mayor
“I came away from the meeting very encouraged by it.”
Tourism Tropical North Queensland Chief Executive, Alex de Waal, indicated that the potential new route was discussed, saying a conversation about ‘international opportunities’ was held along with increased domestic flights over the Chinese New Year period.
However, a Jetstar spokesperson said talks of any new routes are ‘just speculation’.
The representative continued, explaining that Cairns is an ‘important market’ for the Qantas Group and the budget airline is always looking for ‘new opportunities that reflect customer demands’.
“We regularly meet with councils across the country on a range of matters, however talk about new routes is just speculation.”
Jetstar spokesperson
Currently, the only international services Jetstar operates out of Cairns are to Japan, which is welcoming more Aussies every year, and tourist hot spot, Bali.
Meanwhile, last week, the Qantas Group received access to more flights into the growing region of South America, through a new codeshare agreement between Jetstar and LAN.
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