China Southern Airlines has returned to Brisbane for the first time in almost four years, reconnecting Queensland with China’s key gateway of Guangzhou. China’s largest carrier will initially operate four flights per week to Brisbane and will increase to daily services from 8 December to cater for peak season demand.
International visitors stay longer and spend more, with China the largest international market for Queensland pre-pandemic, accounting for almost one in five international visitors and generating $1.6 billion in overnight visitor spending in 2019. Over the next three years China Southern has the potential to bring in 277,896 visitors, generating approximately $440 million for the visitor economy and supporting 1,790 Queensland jobs.
“Today’s arrival supercharges the inbound Chinese tourism market, creating good jobs right here in Queensland,” according to Gert-Jan de Graaff, Chief Executive Officer of Brisbane Airport. “Not only do we celebrate the return of China Southern Airlines, but with it, the very first direct group arrivals from China into Queensland since the pandemic. It is the group travel market and their itineraries that will deliver large numbers of tourists from China into this state’s regions including the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and of course the Great Barrier Reef is a huge magnet. This is also a restored route for Queensland’s exports to make their way to one of the world’s largest markets. This new service is also more modern. The A350 that landed today is designed to be quieter and use 25% less fuel burn and CO2 emissions per seat compared to previous generation aircraft used by China Southern in 2019.”
China Southern’s return is one of 26 deals negotiated as part of the Attracting Aviation Investment Fund in partnership with Queensland’s four international airports. Combined, the 26 services are estimated to support nearly 20,000 Queensland jobs and $1.6 billion in annual visitor spending.
The return of China Southern Airlines has been supported by the Attracting Aviation Investment Fund, Tourism and Events Queensland, Brisbane Economic Development Agency, Experience Gold Coast and Tourism Tropical North Queensland. Marketing campaigns have already begun in China to entice visitors to Queensland. Guangzhou is the 28th international destination now serviced directly from Brisbane Airport.
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