2 new International Airlines planning BNE flights.D7 and QR.
Also speaking on the Australia international aviation outlook panel, AirAsia X head of commercial Arik De said that China is one of its core source markets for Australia. AirAsia X’s Australia traffic now consists of more inbound passengers than outbound, due to rapid growth from China, India, Indonesia and Vietnam.
“People in places like Delhi and Ho Chi Minh City see Australia and New Zealand as aspirational so we see great appetite,” Mr De said. “There’s people growing up with an aspiration to see Australia, and that’s exciting for us.”
Mr De said that AirAsia X plans to pursue further expansion in Australia, including launching service to Brisbane Airport. Mr De explained: “Brisbane is a cornerstone of our plans,” he said. “It’s on the list.”
Qatar launched services to Adelaide and Sydney in 1H2016 and also serves Melbourne and Perth. In a keynote address Qatar Airways senior VP aeropolitical and corporate affairs Fathi Atti said the airline will also launch to Brisbane if it can secure the traffic rights.
“One of the reasons why I’m here [in Brisbane] is my airline wants to be here and we will. That’s a promise”, he said.
Mr Atti said Qatar’s future in Australia is “fully dependent on how much we can grow here according to the bilateral.” He added that the only place Qatar Airways is not growing globally is Australia, “but not by lack of desire”.
Both announcements at the CPA summit in BNE last week.
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