New flight is sunny news
FAR North residents will be able to fly direct to the Sunshine Coast from next month on a new route announced by the State Government.
Alliance Airlines will run three flights per week between the two destinations from mid-July, which had the potential to involve more than 3800 passengers over the next three months.
They are due to go on sale in the coming weeks.
The announcement comes after Cairns and 15 other Queensland airports shared in $15 million funding to help kickstart both intrastate and interstate flights following the COVID-19 crisis.
FAR North residents will be able to fly direct to the Sunshine Coast from next month on a new route announced by the State Government.
Alliance Airlines will run three flights per week between the two destinations from midJuly, with the potential to carry more than 3800 passengers over the next three months.
Tickets are due to go on sale in the coming weeks.
The announcement comes after Cairns and 15 other Queensland airports shared in $15 million funding to help kickstart both intrastate and interstate flights following the COVID-19 crisis.
Cairns MP Michael Healy said the new Sunshine Coast route was a boon for the Far North.
“The Sunshine Coast has a big population – thousands of people who are itching to get out of the house and experience something new,” he said.
“Another connection with southeast Queensland is great news for operators who have struggled for months now.
“We need to partner with airlines and airports to kickstart our tourism sector.”
Cairns Airport chief executive Norris Carter said research showed there was “significant demand” from Sunshine Coast travellers to visit the Far North.
“These new flights will make it easier for Queenslanders at both ends of the route to discover more of Queensland,” he said.
“Restoring aviation capacity is vital for us to reroute some of the $54 billion usually spent by Australians travelling overseas each year into the Far North.”
Tourism Minister Kate Jones said the route had the potential to support around 13,500 jobs between the two destinations.
“Tourism operators around the world, around Australia and around Queensland are hurting right now,” she said.
“This (airport) funding we’ll help to bring visitors back and support local jobs.”
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the new route had come about following a threemonth partnership between the State Government and Sunshine Coast Airport.
The Sunshine Coast Airport on Sunday opened its new $334 million runway which will accommodate larger jets.