China eastern airlines introduces special New Year flights connecting Shanghai to Cairns in 2024

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

A significant development in international travel has been announced, with China Eastern Airlines set to commence flights to Cairns early next year. The airline will operate seasonal services from Shanghai to Cairns specifically for the Chinese New Year celebrations in 2024.

Anticipating a surge in Chinese tourists eager to welcome the Year of the Dragon in Tropical North Queensland, there are 10 scheduled flights from February 1 to February 18. These flights, operating four times a week (on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday), aim to entice visitors to choose Cairns as their tropical destination for the New Year festivities.

Richard Barker, the Chief Executive Officer of Cairns Airport, expressed excitement about the economic boost this significant seasonal service is expected to bring during a traditionally slower period. He stated, “We are delighted to welcome these services to Cairns in 2024, re-establishing a direct service to this key inbound tourism market. This will be the first Chinese New Year service since the pandemic, and further illustrates how our industry continues to recover and thrive.”

The scheduled flights are projected to introduce 2320 seats to Cairns and the surrounding region, injecting up to $3 million into the local visitor economy. Barker, who recently traveled to China with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, noted that Australia remains a desirable destination for the Chinese despite the challenges of the last few years. He expressed hope that these seasonal services would expedite the return of visitors from China, historically a leading market for inbound tourism.

The last time Cairns welcomed seasonal flights from China was in 2019, and the most recent scheduled service from China was Hainan Airlines, which operated to Shenzhen and ceased operations in March 2020 due to the pandemic.

China Eastern Airlines plans to operate the Airbus A330 aircraft on the Cairns route, providing 29 business and 203 economy seats. Mark Olsen, Chief Executive Officer of Tourism Tropical North Queensland, emphasized that the return of direct flights from China is a crucial piece in the aviation puzzle for the region’s international visitation to rebound stronger than before.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk highlighted the significance of these flights for job creation and export opportunities for local produce. She stated, “Locking in these seasonal services directly to Cairns will provide a welcome boost to the region’s visitor economy and open the door to trade opportunities. Every flight in leaves full of local produce in its cargo, which means more good jobs for Queenslanders.”

Patricia O’Callaghan, CEO of Tourism and Events Queensland, praised the efforts to make Queensland a top destination for Chinese New Year holidays. She expressed delight at China Eastern Airlines recognizing the demand and putting on these special direct services. O’Callaghan credited Queensland’s aviation support program and industry partnerships as crucial factors in securing and supporting these flights.

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