The Palaszczuk Government’s $200 million partnership with Queensland’s four international airports and industry has landed a Tokyo Narita to Gold Coast service, creating more good, secure jobs.
Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said Jetstar’s Tokyo Narita flight would touch down on the Gold Coast from next month.
“This is the fourth international service announced through Australia’s largest airline attraction fund war chest for Queensland’s tourism’s pandemic recovery,” Mr Hinchliffe said.
“Jetstar’s Tokyo Narita flight to the Gold Coast is a returning service with support from the Attracting Aviation Investment Fund to grow from three arrivals a week.
“As a direct flight from Japan, there is potential to support up to 1027 jobs over three years and generate $275 million in overnight visitor spending for the Gold Coast visitor economy.
“This service alone will deliver 350,701 inbound international seats to the Gold Coast over three years.”
Destination Gold Coast CEO Patricia O’Callaghan said the direct flights mark an important milestone for Gold Coast’s international tourism recovery.
“Japan was our third largest international market prior to the pandemic and what’s more, was growing in visitation, nights and spend,” Ms O’Callaghan said
“We anticipate a welcome injection of visitors as a result of these flights.
“We know the Gold Coast is a highly sought-after destination for Japanese visitors who love everything from our 52-kilometres of golden beaches to unspoiled World Heritage-listed rainforest, native wildlife and cool urban precincts.
“These services demonstrate that the Queensland Aviation Attraction Fund is bearing fruit to give us a great head start to re-establish and attract new routes which is critical to Gold Coast’s recovery and growth.”
Jetstar Group CEO Gareth Evans said Jetstar was the first Australian carrier to relaunch flights between Japan and Australia.
“We’re already seeing a lot of pent-up demand from Japanese travellers eager to visit Australia,” Mr Evans said.
“Australia has always been a popular destination for Japanese travellers, and we’re excited to be able to reconnect the two countries, providing a significant tourism boost to Queensland.”
Mr Hinchliffe said services had been secured with Air Canada for Vancouver to Brisbane, United Airlines direct to Brisbane from San Francisco and Scoot’s Singapore to Gold Coast route.
“We’re rebuilding Queensland’s pre-pandemic air capacity because direct flights are absolutely critical to the recovery of Queensland’s $6 billion inbound international tourism industry,” Mr Hinchliffe said.
“Last year, we identified the pandemic’s global shortage of aircraft and pilots would make rebuilding international aviation an extremely competitive business.
“That’s why the Palaszczuk Government has partnered dollar-for-dollar with Queensland’s four international airports on the nation-leading $200 million Attracting Aviation Investment Fund.
“Aimed specifically at international aviation, the fund gives Queensland airports the certainty to negotiate with airlines to fast-track direct flights and economic recovery.
“The four international services are predicted to support 1,885 jobs, more than 267,000 inbound seats to Queensland and $311million in overnight visitor spending.
“We know more direct flights mean more visitors spending in Queensland’s tourism economy, enjoying our great lifestyle, air freight capacity for the State’s exporters and more good, secure jobs.
“Our airports are continuing to work with airlines to return Queensland international aviation to pre-pandemic capacity and expect to be able to announce more visitor carrying services soon.”
The $200 million Attracting Aviation Investment Fund is a partnership between the Palaszczuk Government and Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Cairns international airports.
