Brisbane has a new nonstop link to China with the arrival of Air China’s inaugural Beijing service.
Flight CA795, operated by Airbus A330-200 B-6113, touched down in Brisbane just after 1500 on Monday, following the 11-hour journey from Beijing.
The aircraft received an Airservices Aviation Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) monitor cross as it taxied to the international terminal.
After about four and a half hours on the ground, the A330-200 took off as the reciprocal CA796 back to Beijing a few minutes after 1940.
Brisbane Airport chief executive Julieanne Alroe noted the China was the second largest inbound visitor market at the airport, having grown nine per cent in 2016/17 to about 350,000.
“These direct Air China flights will help grow this important market which will have flow on benefits for every sector of our economy, from business and investment to tourism, trade and education,” Alroe said in a statement.
Air China plans to operate the new route four times a week. The A330-200s used on the route feature 30 lie-flat business class seats in a 2-2-2 configuration and 207 economy class seats at eight abreast for a total of 237.
Brisbane is the Star Alliance member’s third destination in Australia alongside Melbourne (from Beijing and Shanghai) and Sydney (from Beijing, Chengdu and Shanghai).
In addition to bringing in more visitors to Queensland, Air China general manager for Australia Rui Jei said the new nonstop link would offer Australians more options for travel to China, wider Asia, Europe and North America.
“This is an exciting era for Air China and Queensland, Brisbane City and Brisbane Airport,” Rui said.
Brisbane Airport has said previously the new new route was established in partnership with the state government and local tourism bodies as part of Queensland’s “Connecting with Asia” consortium.
Four Chinese carriers offer nonstop flights to the mainland – Air China, China Eastern, China Southern and Hainan Airlines.
Taiwanese carriers China Airlines and EVA also fly to Brisbane, as does Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific.
Flight Number/Routing |
Days of operation |
Time of departure |
Time of arrival |
|
CA796 BNE-PEK |
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday |
19:30 |
04:45(+1) |
|
CA795 PEK-BNE |
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday |
02:30 |
15:10 |
