25 June 2021
MEDIA RELEASE
New Air New Zealand flights boost tourism recovery
More international Air New Zealand flights are being added to regional Queensland airport schedules to support the Palaszczuk Government’s COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan.
Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said year-round trans-Tasman flights had been secured for the Sunshine and Gold Coasts and Cairns.
“The deal we’ve sealed with Air New Zealand is great news for Kiwi travellers and Queensland tourism operators,” Mr Hinchliffe said.
”By extending direct flights through to May 2022 from Auckland and Christchurch we expect to support almost 250 jobs and deliver at least $17 million to Queensland’s visitor economy.
“The new flights add more than 26,000 seats to the flight schedules of three regional international airports as part of the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment to helping tourism to rebuild better.
“It’s part of our investment of more than $860 million in direct support for the tourism industry’s Economic Recovery Plan.
“We’ve been able to move to year-round flights across the ditch because we’ve followed the expert medical advice to make Queensland a safe travel destination.”
“Member for Caloundra Jason Hunt said the Air New Zealand deal would be warmly welcomed by Sunshine Coast tourism operators.
“I know we’ll be rolling out the welcome mat for our Kiwi visitors who have always enjoyed the Sunshine Coast’s laid back family atmosphere and sandy beaches” Mr Hunt said.
Member for Nicklin Rob Skelton said the new flights had great potential for the Sunshine Coast.
“With many New Zealanders having family and friends living on the Coast, these flights will make it even easier to plan a visit and beat the tail end of the Kiwi winter,” Mr Skelton said.
Extended scheduled seasonal services with Air New Zealand include Auckland to Cairns, Auckland to the Sunshine Coast and Christchurch to the Gold Coast.
Air New Zealand General Manager Sales Australia Paul McLean said the airline is delighted to be able to offer its customers year-round access to some of Queensland’s most popular destinations.
“In 2019, around 500,000 trips were taken from New Zealand to Queensland, and Air New Zealand flew around half of these customers,” he said.
“We know Kiwis love to escape to Queensland’s warmer climes during the cooler winter months, and many Australians already take advantage of the ski season in New Zealand.
For Queenslanders, extending to year-round direct services means good connections onto our domestic network and the chance to explore other parts of the country during the shoulder season.”
Sunshine Coast Airport Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Brodie, said the announcement of a year-round service was a strong vote of confidence in the region.
“Today’s announcement delivers on a long-held ambition to secure Air New Zealand flights to Auckland year-round, and our new, internationally capable runway will allow the service to operate without weight restrictions,” Mr Brodie said.
Before the pandemic, Kiwis contributed $600 million to Queensland’s visitor economy.
“Unforgettable Queensland holiday experiences have always been a favourite with New Zealanders,” Mr Hinchliffe said.
“Year-round flights mean Queensland is always Good to Go.”
ENDS
Image L-R: Matt Stoeckel (Chief Executive Officer, Visit Sunshine Coast), Garry Porter (Chief Operating Officer, Cairns Airport), Hon. Stirling Hinchliffe (Minister for Tourism Industry Development and Innovation and Minister for Sport), Melanie Anderson (Chief Executive Officer, Tourism Noosa) and Andrew Brodie (Chief Executive Officer, Sunshine Coast Airport).
Contact: Sunshine Coast Airport Corporate Relations, [email protected], 0439 835 301
