WA flight trial a success

WESTERN Australia Minister for Tourism Paul Papalia has hailed the success of the ongoing China Eastern Airlines flight trial between Perth and Shanghai.

The trial began on 12 Jan, marking the first direct flight linking Western Australia and Shanghai and will wrap up on 17 Feb (TD 26 Sep 2019).

Speaking to Travel Daily, Papalia lauded the healthy gauge on the flights, despite noting the effect the of the coronavirus outbreak.

“In terms of seats sold the trial has been a success,” Papalia said.

“94% of seats on the flights have been sold, excluding ‘dead legs’ where flights are returning passengers to China after the flight trial... even with the dead legs, 83% of seats have been sold.”

Papalia also said his state’s tourism industry remained relatively insulated from the full brunt of the effects of coronavirus, when compared to eastern states.

“China is our fifth-largest source of visitors in terms of numbers; in every other jurisdiction China is the number one or two source.”

“China’s restrictions on group travel will impact some parts of WA’s tourism sector that rely on groups but will have a lower impact on the wider WA tourism industry because the majority of our Chinese visitors are free independent travellers who do not travel in groups.”

He noted that in other states, group travellers make up a large proportion of the China market.

“Perth currently has only eight direct flights from China each week: five from Guangzhou and three from Shanghai as part of the trial, and none from Wuhan.

“By comparison, Melbourne has 14 direct flights from China every day and Sydney has 12.”