ASM wins Cairns airport contract
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Airport Strategy and Marketing Limited (ASM), the world leader in route development for airports, has been engaged by Cairns Airport in a project to establish scheduled services to China.
The contract will see ASM working with the airport and Tourism Tropical North Queensland to create a regular scheduled service for the large number of Chinese tourists who want to use Cairns Airport as their gateway to such attractions as the Great Barrier Reef.
“Australia is a very popular destination for the Chinese. Upwards of 30,000 passengers per year from China visit Cairns,” said Gordon Bevan, ASM’s Vice President Consulting Services, based in Wellington, New Zealand.
“But holiday-makers wishing to visit North Queensland must currently take an internal flight from Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne, adding up to eight hours to the beginning and end of their trip.
“Our approach will centre around the charter services that already exist - there are several airlines offering services, particularly around the Chinese New Year in February - and we hope to be able to negotiate and broker successful partnerships to extend these into regular scheduled services from hubs in China.”
Initial airline feedback has been positive and it is hoped the Chinese carriers can be persuaded of the benefits of new links with Australia.
Robert Evans, General Manager Aviation for Cairns Airport, is excited about the prospect of the new route:
“Direct scheduled flights between Cairns and China will be an excellent development for the airport and the region; we look forward to working with our partners and encouraging growth despite a tough economic environment.”
ASM has a long and successful history working in Australasia. Cairns is the sixth Australian airport with which the consultancy has worked.
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