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General News

13 July, 2022

Flights resume on Kiwi route

KIWIS LANDING in Cairns on Tuesday morning were treated to a celebratory cake to mark the return of direct flights to and from New Zealand.


Dr Ken Chapman (left) and Richard Barker (right) welcome the arrivals at Cairns Airport
Dr Ken Chapman (left) and Richard Barker (right) welcome the arrivals at Cairns Airport

Aside from a brief Trans-Tasman Bubble in 2021 it has been 12 months since an Air New Zealand plane has landed in Cairns. 

Chief Executive Officer of Cairns Airport, Richard Barker, welcomed the restoration of the Cairns - Auckland route which he said was “a vital step in the recovery of the Far North’s economy”. 

“These flights will undoubtedly be a welcome addition to travellers’ itineraries, both for those seeking a warmer, tropical holiday in the Far North and for local adrenalin seekers keen to hit the slopes in New Zealand,” Barker said. 

Three direct flights will operate between Cairns and Auckland each week which will also make it easier for families to re-unite. 

It is expected there will be interest from travellers on both sides. 

Air New Zealand Chief Customer and Sales Officer Leanne Geraghty said “Kiwis love to escape to Far North Queensland for a warm winter getaway”. 

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“We know that linking visitors directly to Auckland makes it easier for them to visit our wine regions such as Marlborough and Hawke’s Bay, and ski adventure destinations like Queenstown,” she said. 

Chair of Tourism Tropical North Queensland, Ken Chapman said more than 38,000 visitors from New Zealand travelled to the region in pre-pandemic 2019, staying for an average of 10.5 nights and injecting almost $67 million into the economy. 

Dr. Chapman was hopeful a campaign targeting NZ media and influencers in recent months would help increase visitation numbers to pre-pandemic levels. 

“The media have been wanting to share Tropical North Queensland’s World Heritage areas, Indigenous culture and city experiences, including the thriving food and beverage scene with their readers and followers,” he said.

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