Region needs further flights

THE axing of about six domestic flights a week by Jetstar and Qantas cutting seat capacity is another blow to the region’s beleaguered tourism industry.

The sector is reeling from the impacts of the coronavirus and southern bushfires but Future Tourism hosted by the Cairns Post on Wednesday energised and gave nearly 500 industry representatives a degree of optimism.

Despite the virus threat, the Chinese middle class is growing with the desire to travel. Projections are another one million Chinese visitors will come here by 2029.

Demographer Bernard Salt is urging the region to grow international student numbers and reap the benefits of family and friends travelling Down Under to visit and stay for a holiday.

About 80 per cent of international tourists travelling to Cairns come on domestic services.

Cairns Airport senior executives are working hard to secure more direct overseas routes but it is an extremely competitive environment.

The region needs more, not fewer domestic flights, with reasonably priced fares and more seats for domestic and international passengers.

It is estimated that at least 1200 seats will be lost when Jetstar cuts a flight each a week between Cairns and Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Darwin, Gold Coast and Adelaide. As well, Qantas is to replace its bigger A330 with a 737-800 on some routes, a further reduction of about 123 seats a flight. Virgin and Tigerair are under financial strain and are highly unlikely to add services.

It’s another hurdle that tourism has to overcome. It’s gloomy at the moment but we have to keep putting one foot in front of the other.