Qantas puts on special US flights to CNS

[Jarden S]

G'Day USA, come fly to us on the cheap
Jennifer Eliot

Monday, January 18, 2010

© The Cairns Post



A DROP in the number of American visitors to the Far North looks set for a recovery on the back of a deal struck between Qantas, the State Government and Tourism Tropical North Queensland.

Queensland tourism ambassador Ben Southall and Premier Anna Bligh yesterday launched $973 return flights, plus taxes, from Los Angeles or San Francisco to Cairns at the G'Day USA trade fair in LA.

The ticket, which is a saving of more than $100 on the regular fare, comes with a free stopover in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Auckland.

TTNQ chairman Bill Calderwood told The Cairns Post it was a fantastic initiative and the industry was optimistic it would lift the lagging US market.

Visitors from the US market dropped by 10 per cent last year, a figure consistent with the nationwide tourism downturn and the industry is keen for an improvement in 2010.

"The American market has been strong but in recent years it has gone into decline," he said.

"We hope this promotion will help this market recover and bring it back to where it was."

Mr Calderwood said TTNQ was investing in major markets, including the US, in a bid to harness potential growth and to see visitor numbers recover.

He said the forward forecast for the US market was looking positive, making the announcement timely for the Far North.

Ms Bligh said Tourism Queensland and the State Government would continue their marketing campaigns in partnership with their airline partners to encourage US visitors to holiday in Queensland.

"The Queensland Government is committed to growing this essential industry and it’s great to be involved in events such as G'Day USA," she said.

"We are here to ensure Queensland is centre stage in the US as this is an important international source market for visitors."

Unfortunately, the deal is not valid for Far Northerners making the trip to LA or San Francisco with prices hovering at $1800 and $1900 respectively

The Qantas flights are on sale until March 31 and dates are available from May 1 to June 8 and July 24 to September 21

What type of aircraft will QF be using to serve these special flights?