Published Thursday, 28 February, 2008 at 01:58 PM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Brisbane flying high on domestic airline seat increase
Domestic airline capacity to Brisbane has soared in the past 12 months with an extra 7500 seats a week now coming into Brisbane, Tourism Minister Desley Boyle says.
Ms Boyle welcomed the 6 per cent annual increase to 127,000 inbound domestic seats per week, saying it was great news for the south-east region.
“Brisbane has been the beneficiary of terrific growth in airline seat capacity during the past year,” Ms Boyle said.
“The Queensland Government has welcomed the increase in seats on the Sydney-Brisbane route by both Jetstar and Virgin Blue.
“At the same time, Brisbane welcomed more Qantas and Virgin Blue services from Canberra, more Qantas services from Perth and more Virgin Blue services from Adelaide and Hobart.
“These figures are testament to the effort and innovation put into growing airline capacity to the Queensland capital by the airport authorities and Tourism Queensland and there is only more great news to come.”
Ms Boyle said from June 1, Jetstar would grow its existing three times daily Newcastle-Brisbane services to four times a day.
From July, Jetstar will also increase the frequency of its Melbourne (Avalon) to Brisbane services from 14 to 21 a week.
“The increase in Jetstar services on the Melbourne to Brisbane route will add about 1200 inbound weekly seats,” she said.
“The growth in domestic capacity into our capital city by all carriers during the past year and the wonderful plans for the year ahead bodes well for tourism and related industries in Brisbane in 2008.
“Fifth-seven per cent of visitors to Brisbane are Queensland residents mostly on business or visiting friends and relatives.
“There has never been a more competitive and yet more exciting time to be involved in the aviation and tourism industries in Queensland.
"While there has been a softening of growth in international tourism recently, the continued growth of domestic tourism is very encouraging."
Ends
Media contact: 3224 2007 or 3225 1005
Tourism Queensland: 3535 5010
28 February 2008
Ms Boyle welcomed the 6 per cent annual increase to 127,000 inbound domestic seats per week, saying it was great news for the south-east region.
“Brisbane has been the beneficiary of terrific growth in airline seat capacity during the past year,” Ms Boyle said.
“The Queensland Government has welcomed the increase in seats on the Sydney-Brisbane route by both Jetstar and Virgin Blue.
“At the same time, Brisbane welcomed more Qantas and Virgin Blue services from Canberra, more Qantas services from Perth and more Virgin Blue services from Adelaide and Hobart.
“These figures are testament to the effort and innovation put into growing airline capacity to the Queensland capital by the airport authorities and Tourism Queensland and there is only more great news to come.”
Ms Boyle said from June 1, Jetstar would grow its existing three times daily Newcastle-Brisbane services to four times a day.
From July, Jetstar will also increase the frequency of its Melbourne (Avalon) to Brisbane services from 14 to 21 a week.
“The increase in Jetstar services on the Melbourne to Brisbane route will add about 1200 inbound weekly seats,” she said.
“The growth in domestic capacity into our capital city by all carriers during the past year and the wonderful plans for the year ahead bodes well for tourism and related industries in Brisbane in 2008.
“Fifth-seven per cent of visitors to Brisbane are Queensland residents mostly on business or visiting friends and relatives.
“There has never been a more competitive and yet more exciting time to be involved in the aviation and tourism industries in Queensland.
"While there has been a softening of growth in international tourism recently, the continued growth of domestic tourism is very encouraging."
Ends
Media contact: 3224 2007 or 3225 1005
Tourism Queensland: 3535 5010
28 February 2008