Additional flights between Cairns and Singapore begin as international tourism steps up

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Travellers in the tropical north will now have direct access to a major Southeast Asian hub five days a week, signalling a strong uptake in international tourism to the region post-COVID.

Singapore Airlines will fly direct between Cairns and Changi each Saturday and Sunday from this weekend.

The additional services join the Monday, Wednesday and Friday weekly flights that have been operating since March.

As well as serving the Singaporean market, the flights also connect passengers to other destinations on the airline’s network, including London, Paris, and Frankfurt.

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Cairns Airport CEO Richard Barker said he’s “delighted” to see the increase in flights.  

“When Singapore Airlines launched their Cairns services in March, it was clear they were keen to increase frequency in anticipation of the peak summer travel period in Europe,” he said.

“Knowing we have Singapore Airlines’ all new 737-8 aircraft and product on the route shows a real vote of confidence from one of the world’s top airlines.”

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More international flights are expected to touch down in Cairns in the coming months.

From late July, nine Jetstar services are set to operate each week to Tokyo and Osaka.

Earlier in the month, flights to New Zealand are anticipated to start with three services per week.

The Bali route, which began with twice-weekly flights earlier this year, is planned to double to four services as well.

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Also in July, a new low-cost carrier is launching a network of domestic flights.

Bonza will run five flights each week from Cairns to the Sunshine Coast, and two flights per week each to Rockhampton and Mackay.

The additional flights are expected to increase Cairns Airport’s capacity by 20 per cent.

Nationally, Bonza is offering 25 routes between 16 destinations across Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales, with a focus on connecting regional cities and towns.