Published Monday, 17 November, 2008 at 05:06 PM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Emirates Airlines strengthens ties with Queensland
Tourism Queensland and Emirates Airlines have signed a cooperative marketing agreement to promote Queensland to Middle Eastern and European travellers in the lead-up to a new non-stop flight which will commence between Dubai and Brisbane next February.
Tourism Minister Desley Boyle, who is currently in Dubai as part of a trade mission to the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong and China, announced the agreement today, which she said will help position Queensland as Australia’s international gateway from the Middle East.
“Emirates first began flying daily into Brisbane from Dubai via Singapore in 2003 and since then has steadily increased its commitment to Queensland,” Ms Boyle said.
“The airline currently provides around 1240 weekly inbound seats into Queensland from Dubai via Singapore and an additional 1240 weekly seats from Auckland.
“From February next year, Emirates will also introduce the first non-stop flight from Dubai to Brisbane, which will add an additional estimated 2500 weekly seats straight into Queensland.
“This is fantastic news for our state and will make it easier than ever for visitors from the Middle East and Europe to choose Brisbane as their gateway into Australia and connect to other destinations throughout the state such as the Gold Coast, Whitsundays and Tropical North Queensland.
“Earlier this year Emirates also launched its first purpose-built A380 lounge at Brisbane International Airport which will allow passengers to board flights directly from the lounge.”
Ms Boyle said that over the past three financial years, traffic from Dubai to Brisbane had increased by 44 percent, largely thanks to Emirates’ commitment to the route.
“This number is expected to increase with the new partnership arrangement and the additional seats allowing travellers direct access to a range of Queensland destinations rather than having to transit through interstate airports,” she said.
Ms Boyle said the new agreement between Tourism Queensland and Emirates Airlines is another plank in network of actions taken by the Bligh Government to get past the present international tourism crisis and position Queensland’s tourism industry for a solid future.
“The battle is far from over,” she said.
“The government, aviation and tourism industries needed to keep working together to ensure the future of Queensland’s tourism industry remains bright.”
Ends
Media contact: 3225 1005 or 0419 025 326
17 November 2008
Tourism Minister Desley Boyle, who is currently in Dubai as part of a trade mission to the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong and China, announced the agreement today, which she said will help position Queensland as Australia’s international gateway from the Middle East.
“Emirates first began flying daily into Brisbane from Dubai via Singapore in 2003 and since then has steadily increased its commitment to Queensland,” Ms Boyle said.
“The airline currently provides around 1240 weekly inbound seats into Queensland from Dubai via Singapore and an additional 1240 weekly seats from Auckland.
“From February next year, Emirates will also introduce the first non-stop flight from Dubai to Brisbane, which will add an additional estimated 2500 weekly seats straight into Queensland.
“This is fantastic news for our state and will make it easier than ever for visitors from the Middle East and Europe to choose Brisbane as their gateway into Australia and connect to other destinations throughout the state such as the Gold Coast, Whitsundays and Tropical North Queensland.
“Earlier this year Emirates also launched its first purpose-built A380 lounge at Brisbane International Airport which will allow passengers to board flights directly from the lounge.”
Ms Boyle said that over the past three financial years, traffic from Dubai to Brisbane had increased by 44 percent, largely thanks to Emirates’ commitment to the route.
“This number is expected to increase with the new partnership arrangement and the additional seats allowing travellers direct access to a range of Queensland destinations rather than having to transit through interstate airports,” she said.
Ms Boyle said the new agreement between Tourism Queensland and Emirates Airlines is another plank in network of actions taken by the Bligh Government to get past the present international tourism crisis and position Queensland’s tourism industry for a solid future.
“The battle is far from over,” she said.
“The government, aviation and tourism industries needed to keep working together to ensure the future of Queensland’s tourism industry remains bright.”
Ends
Media contact: 3225 1005 or 0419 025 326
17 November 2008