First AirAsia flight from Indonesia touches down in Cairns

• AirAsia Indonesia touches down in Cairns from Bali for the first time
• Providing a new connection into the Far North from across South-East Asia.
• Bringing more than 63,000 inbound seats and $31 million over three years

The first AirAsia service from Bali has touched down in Cairns at 6.10 this morning, opening up the Far North to affordable, one stop connections between Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and other Indonesian hubs like Jakarta and Surabaya.

The flights will operate three times per week, bringing more than 63,000 seats into the Cairns market over three years including 15,000 international visitors, while generating up to $31.11 million in overnight visitor expenditure and creating up to 100 direct and indirect jobs.

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

There is up to two tonnes of freight capacity on the narrowbody A320 which will provide valuable room for Far North exporters.

AAIF has so far delivered 35 international services across Queensland carrying a total of up to 496 tonnes of freight capacity – an average of 14.1 tonnes per service, and up to 25 tonnes on the larger widebody aircraft.

That provides strong export opportunities across Queensland every week.

From Brisbane Airport, the major exports include machinery, instruments and equipment, animal products, fresh produce and medical equipment.

While at Gold Coast Airport, exporters are sending general cargo, commercial animals, fresh cut flowers, seafood and medical equipment overseas.

Air freight exports out of Cairns rose 17.7% to 68.5 million in 2023/24 but are still below pre-Covid levels.

The Far North’s key export markets include Papua New Guinea, Vietnam, Japan, Thailand and Hong Kong, with the top exports including air and space-craft equipment, seafood, scientific measurement equipment, fruit and nuts.

The AAIF-supported flights also provide another avenue for the return of international students and their families who can visit them on holidays.

There were more than 1,300 Indonesian students enrolled across Queensland as at April 2024.

While in Cairns, there were more than 1,800 international student enrolments in 2023 – the fifth largest region for International Education and Training in the state.

Across the state, new direct flights mean more opportunities for families to re-connect – In the year to March 2024, spending by people visiting friends and relatives in Queensland reached a record of nearly $1 billion.

The Attracting Aviation Investment Fund has now delivered more than 2.27 million inbound international seats, worth up to $2 billion in visitor spending each year while supporting almost 23,000 jobs.

Special fares will go on sale today and can be booked via the AirAsia website or AirAsia Move app.

Quotes attributable to Tourism Minister and Member for Cairns Michael Healy:

“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.

“Visitors will be able to plan an extended stay in Queensland and discover just how much this beautiful state has to offer.

“The flights will also provide another avenue for our local exporters to deliver their goods such as fish and crustaceans, avocadoes, mangoes, melons, citrus and blueberries to some major South-East Asian markets.”

Quotes attributable to Cairns Airport CEO Richard Barker:

“AirAsia is one of the world’s most recognisable airline brands and 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.

“This new service will offer immense benefits to our region and many key industries.

“Providing seamless, affordable connections to Cairns from Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and domestic Indonesia will bolster visitation and business opportunities from these major, populous markets.

“Bali is also a highly popular destination for locals, and we know this new service has been well received by holidaymakers across Tropical North Queensland.”

Quotes attributable to AirAsia Indonesia CEO Veranita Yosephine:

“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.

“At the same time, we are connecting millions of Indonesians and many more millions of guests from Asia and beyond via Bali to Tropical North Queensland’s gateway.

“We see great demand not only for this new direct route. Everyone loves Bali but at the same time we see many opportunities to promote the incredible tourism highlights in the far north of Queensland to our international guests like the Great Barrier Reef - one of the seven wonders of the world and to visit the amazing world renowned rainforests. Conversely, Indonesia and Asia in general continues to be a leisure favourite region for Australians wanting an affordable and unique experience.

“We also invite guests from Queensland to visit and enjoy the beauty of Indonesia. From the world-famous Labuan Bajo (Komodo Island) - home of the Komodo Dragon, and Tanjung Setia Surf-Beach in Lampung, to the new capital of Indonesia, Nusantara, in East Kalimantan, there is something for everyone. Explore the vibrant cultural heritage, the unique culinary delights and immerse yourself in the warm hospitality of our people.

“Indonesia is not just a destination, it is an experience that promises unforgettable memories. We are committed to providing seamless travel options and great value to our passengers, ensuring they have the best possible journey whether they are visiting for leisure or business."

Quotes attributable to Indonesian Consul General in Sydney Vedi Kurnia Buana:

“We are excited to see Indonesia AirAsia enhancing the connection between Bali and Cairns, two beloved destinations for Australians. This route is a testament to the strong bond between our countries, a bond that we proudly celebrate this year as we mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Australia.

“In 2023, approximately 1.37 million Australian tourists visited Indonesia, underscoring the significant interest in our diverse and beautiful nation. This new service not only meets the high demand but also invites travellers from Cairns to discover the rich cultural and natural wonders beyond Bali.

“As we commemorate 75 years of friendship and cooperation, the new Cairns-Denpasar flight route play a crucial role in bringing our people closer together, further strengthening the ties between Indonesia and Australia and fostering mutual economic and tourism growth.”

Quotes attributable to Tourism Tropical North Queensland CEO Mark Olsen

“Tourism Tropical North Queensland welcomes the arrival of AirAsia which will allow the destination to tap into new markets in Asia.

“The urban Asian middle-class is expanding rapidly and these flights will allow Cairns to tap into new source markets.

“The route will also be attractive for travellers connecting from Europe and the United Kingdom, particularly the youth and group series markets wanting a stopover in Indonesia.”

ENDS

Media contact – Peter Michael 0477 948 091