A new daily Singapore Airlines flight to Brisbane will bring up to 100,000 extra visitors a year to Queensland, Acting Tourism Minister Leeanne Enoch announced today.
Ms Enoch said the direct flights would take the number of Singapore Airline services to 28 each week and four per day, injecting up to $133 million into the tourism economy across the three-year agreement.
“This is a great outcome for Brisbane and tourism across the state,” she said.
“With the rise of travel from Asia and Singapore being one of the world’s largest connecting ports these flights will result in a significant economic boost for Queensland.
“Record numbers of travellers want to come to Queensland and these services make it far easier to fly to Brisbane from southern Asia or 300 connected cities world-wide.
“These flights align perfectly with our objective of increasing direct access and capitalising on the enormous opportunity from our largest source markets within Asia.”
Ms Enoch said the additional services were secured with support from the Palaszczuk Government’s Attracting Aviation Investment Fund.
“These flights are expected to bring close to $44 million of economic activity each year,” she said.
“It is very pleasing one of the world’s largest airlines has chosen Brisbane as one of its preferred routes.
“The services will attract additional visitors from our key source markets of Singapore, the United Kingdom, China and India as well as around 45 city links from across Asia.
“I thank Singapore Airlines, Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) and Brisbane Airport Corporation for their work on delivering this result for Queensland.”
Singapore Airlines Regional Vice President, South West Pacific, Mr Tan Tiow Kor said he was looking forward to another big year in 2017 after an eventful 2016.
“We are looking forward to the year ahead and are excited by the prospect of celebrating our 50th anniversary flying to Australia,” Mr Tan said.
“The increase in services and capacity announced today reinforce our longstanding commitment and investment to Australia and the South West Pacific region.”
Julieanne Alroe Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) CEO and Managing Director said it was a significant commitment by any airline to channel valuable resources to a particular destination.
“Today’s announcement is a strong a vote of confidence by Singapore Airlines in Queensland and the popularity of our city and state that will further boost tourism, investment and trade opportunities.
“It is a real luxury for travellers to have so much choice with four flights per day offering inter and intra state travellers an abundance of convenient connections between Brisbane and Singapore and beyond via Singapore Airlines’ extensive network,” Ms Alroe said.
