Hainan flies to holiday rescue

HAINAN Airlines have come to the rescue of the 2020 Chinese New Year celebrations in Cairns by offering five extra flights.

The flights in January from Shenzhen will be in addition to their two-a-week regular services. More than 1000 seats are on offer.

While it is less than what China Eastern operated – about three a week during the festivities this year – Cairns Airport aviation chief commercial officer Luis Perez said earlier it was looking grim.

He said China Eastern had yet to commit to Chinese New Year and China Southern would not be operating any services.

Mr Perez said Hainan was “welcome news in the current climate where Chinese airlines were reducing capacity into Australia”. It was 4 per cent less during 2019 compared to 2018.

“This is great news for Cairns given the softening demand from China and the announcement from some airlines that they are pulling routes from China,” he said.

Mr Perez said Hainan would sell the seats to travel agents who would prepare packages for their customers.

He warned that Chinese airlines were under pressure to provide aircraft for domestic routes, particularly at Beijing’s new Nanyuan airport.

Mr Perez said demand for

Chinese wanting to travel to Australia was higher than actual numbers because many were refused or could not get visas. He said the system needed improvements.

Hainan Airlines Australian general manager Herbert Hu said the extra flights were based on strong passenger demand for Cairns during Chinese New Year.

“We are extremely excited to bring more Chinese visitors from all over China,” he said.

TTNW chief executive Mark Olsen said the Chinese would find it easier to spend their holiday yuan with many businesses now including Chinese payment systems.

He said they were keen to take part in the region’s own Chinese New Year festivities.