Cairns-Seoul direct flights keep our airport numbers soaring


Cairns Airport passenger numbers are set to continue their ascent with confirmation Jin Air will resume operation of a seasonal service between Seoul and Cairns in December and January.

Cairns Airport chief executive officer Norris Carter is thrilled the airline will return to Cairns for 12 return services following the successful launch of direct flights from December 2016 to February.

“We were honoured last year when Jin Air chose Cairns as their first Australian destination and their seasonal service proved to be one of the most successful ever to operate into Cairns Airport, with every flight almost at capacity,” Mr Carter stated.

“The returning service will give more South Korean people direct access to experience the World Heritage Great Barrier Reef and tropical rainforests.”

Jin Air is the most recent airline to confirm direct international flights to Cairns, with Silk Air announcing just a few days ago it was increasing direct flights between Cairns and Singapore due to increasing demand.

The latest statistics show international tourism arrivals landing on Tropical North Queensland soil continues to increase.

The most recent Cairns Watch Report by Herron Todd White reported a 7.8% increase of passengers at the international terminal in the 12 months to April 2017.

The team at Cairns Airport are working with regional, state and national tourism agencies to keep those passenger numbers on the rise.

“Along with the Tourism and Events Queensland, Tourism Tropical North Queensland and Tourism Australia, we continue to work with Jin Air to develop an extended seasonal service and eventually a service that can provide South Korean people with year round access to our destination,” Mr Carter said.