HAINAN AIRLINES LOOKING AT TOWNSVILLE TOUCHDOWN, SAY WALLACE AND MOONEY

International airline flights could return to Townsville if Thuringowa MP Craig Wallace and Townsville Mayor Tony Mooney get their way.

Mr Wallace and Cr Mooney today said they were in talks with Hainan Airlines, a privately owned airline that is China’s fourth largest by fleet size.

Hainan Airlines is considering direct flights between Townsville and China.

“We also are trying to secure our city as the base for a Hainan Airlines pilot training facility, which would see up to 350 pilots trained in the North annually,” Mr Wallace, who also is Minister Assisting the Premier in North Queensland, said.

“Hainan Airlines is one of the fastest growing carriers in the world – so getting them to Townsville will be a major coup,” he said.

Cr Mooney said: “Townsville will get a massive boost if we are successful in luring Hainan Airlines to Townsville.

“Hainan Airlines uses bases such as Beijing and Shanghai to fly all across the globe. Getting flights to Townsville will open up our skies to tourists and visitors from right around the world,” he said.

“To top it off, having 350 pilots trained locally each year will give our economy a huge boost.”

“We also will have a direct link to one of the world’s great emerging economic powerhouses, which could create very significant investment opportunities.”

As part of Townsville’s push, Mr Wallace who will be in China next month to lead a delegation of Queensland coal producers at a major mining conference, will meet with the Vice Governor of Hainan Province and representatives from Hainan Airlines to continue discussions.

Townsville Enterprise Chair Geoff Plante will join Mr Wallace for these meetings.

“Already Queensland’s Trade Commissioner to Hong Kong and Southern China, Simon Lee, has held preliminary discussions with senior Chinese Government and airline officials,” Mr Wallace said.

“They have expressed a keen interest in Townsville and I will certainly be pushing our case,” he said.

Mr Wallace said credit should go to Tony Mooney for the way he and his council have fostered links with China over the last decade.

“Already that has resulted in many trade ties.

“Getting direct international flights would be a fantastic result for all of Cr Mooney’s hard work,” Mr Wallace said.

Hainan Airlines facts and figures:

·Hainan Airlines operates domestic and international fights on 500 routes from Hainan, in the People’s Republic of China, and nine other mainland Chinese locations.

·It flies to 90 destinations including throughout China and to Japan, Korea, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Europe and the USA.

·It also has charters flights to Singapore and Malaysia.

·Hainan Airlines is one of China’s most profitable airlines.

·It is partly owned by US billionaire George Soros.

·At March this year it had 9102 employees.

·It has a fleet of 74 aircraft with a further 163 new aircraft due for begin delivery from the end of this year.

·The average age of the fleet is 5.7 years.

Media inquiries: Paul Childs, Craig Wallace’s office, on 0407 131 654.