Cairns Airport Welcomes First AirAsia Flight, Opening New Asian Routes

Last week, Cairns Airport marked a further milestone in its history with the touchdown of the inaugural AirAsia service for Bali, Indonesia.

The event took place on August 15, with the first flight arriving at 6 am. After a swift turnaround and boarding of local passengers, the aircraft departed for Denpasar, Bali. The flight left Cairns just after 7.00am local time, inaugurating a new era of connectivity for the region.

This new service will now operate three times a week. This will inject over 28,000 seats into the Cairns market in its first year of operation.

Far North Queensland Connectivity

Richard Barker, Chief Executive Officer of Cairns Airport, emphasized the importance of this event for Tropical North Queensland.

“AirAsia is one of the world’s most recognizable airline brands. It is renowned in the industry as Asia’s first low-cost, low-fare carrier. We are thrilled to welcome AirAsia Indonesia to Cairns Airport today, for the first time ever.”

Barker highlighted the immense benefits this new service would bring to the region and various key industries.

Affordable connections from major Asian hubs like Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, as well as from domestic Indonesian locations, will significantly boost visitation and business opportunities from these populous markets.

AirAsia Indonesia Comments

Veranita Yosephine, Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia Indonesia, expressed enthusiasm about the new service. She said, “We are thrilled to touch down in Cairns for the first time ever today, with great value services for local residents to Bali and onto over 130 destinations on the AirAsia Group network.”

Yosephine emphasized the dual benefits of the new route – providing Australians with affordable access to Bali and other Asian destinations. Meanwhile it also opens up Tropical North Queensland to millions of potential visitors from Indonesia and beyond.

The Queensland Government’s $200 million Attracting Aviation Investment Fund (AAIF) has made the new flights possible.

This initiative demonstrates the government’s commitment to boosting tourism and international connections in the region.

Tourism Implications

Tourism Minister and Member for Cairns Michael Healy highlighted the broader implications of this new route. “Having a new direct route into Cairns from Denpasar opens up the Far North to more tourists and international students from across Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.”

The introduction of this service is not just about tourism. It also provides significant opportunities for local exporters.

The new route offers an additional avenue for businesses to deliver their goods. This will include fish, crustaceans, avocados, mangoes, melons, citrus, and blueberries, to major South-East Asian markets. This could potentially boost the region’s economy and create new business opportunities.

Indonesian Consul General in Sydney, Vedi Kurnia Buana, expressed strong support for the new flight. He emphasized its significance in the context of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Australia.

Buana noted, “This route is a testament to the strong bond between our countries. In 2023, approximately 1.37 million Australian tourists visited Indonesia, underscoring the significant interest in our diverse and beautiful nation.”

Mark Olsen, Chief Executive Officer of Tourism Tropical North Queensland, welcomed AirAsia Indonesia’s arrival. He recognized its potential to tap into new markets in Asia.

Olsen pointed out the rapid expansion of the urban Asian middle class and the attractiveness of this route for travelers connecting from Europe and the United Kingdom. This is particularly the case for those in the youth and group series markets seeking a stopover in Indonesia.

Overall, the AirAsia service promises to bring a wealth of opportunities, boosting tourism and strengthening international ties. It will open new avenues for business and cultural exchange. This new route will play a crucial role in the region’s future growth and development for Queensland.