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From the Surat Basin to Shanghai: Wellcamp charter takes off for China

written by Lenn Bayliss | October 24, 2016

Qantas Airbus A330-300 VH-QPA takes off from Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport bound for Shanghai. (Lenn Bayliss)
Qantas Airbus A330-300 VH-QPA takes off from Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport bound for Shanghai. (Lenn Bayliss)

Sunday saw the first international passenger flight out of Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport, a milestone not only for the privately-owned airport but for Toowoomba and the surrounding region.

Qantas Airbus A330-300 VH-QPA operated the one-off charter to Shanghai, organised by the Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE) business group, carrying about 200 delegates to participate in a five-day AccessChina ’16 business delegation visit.

As QF 169 the A330, bearing ‘Toowoomba to Shanghai’ decals plus AccessChina and Toowoomba Region logos, took off from Wellcamp bound for Shanghai a little after 0900 local time.

Spot the odd destination. (Lenn Bayliss)
Spot the odd destination out. (Lenn Bayliss)

The TBSE-organised charter is designed to assist producers and other businesses from the region to learn about business opportunities for exporting into China.

“We’re empowering small to medium sized enterprises to see for themselves where their products fit within the Asian market,” project leader Dr Ben Lyons said.

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“By showing the most innovative and cutting-edge Chinese companies and taking delegates through site tours we are doing just what we said we would – giving people unique access to China with insight into the region.”

Brisbane West Wellcamp airport chairman John Wagner said the AccessChina ’16 flight was a huge milestone for the airport, with another landmark event to follow in November when Cathay Pacific commences a weekly freight service linking the region with Hong Kong.

“We are on the cusp of some ground breaking opportunities and to create strong links with the world’s biggest consumer market, through an opportunity like AccessChina, is invaluable,” Wagner said.

Federal Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Keith Pitt was due to deliver the keynote address at the opening of the AccessChina ’16 conference on Monday.

Wagners chairman John Wagner. (Lenn Bayliss)
Wagners chairman John Wagner. (Lenn Bayliss)

He will join with Queensland Minister for State Development, Natural Resources and Mines Dr Anthony Lynham as well as Austcham Shanghai chairman and Elders China chief executive Craig Aldous, Zhongfu Group chairman Wu Puingai and Lyons, who in addition to being the TSBE project leader is also Food Leaders Australia chief executive.

Pitt noted China was Australia’s top agriculture, forestry and fisheries export market with exports valued at $11 billion in 2015.

“China is key to the future success of Australian agriculture,” Pitt said.

“Southern Queensland is well placed to provide the fresh, tasty and safe produce that Chinese consumers are increasingly demanding.”

To mark the one-off charter, the Qantas Airbus A330-300 VH-QPA was decorated with special decals and logos. (Lenn Bayliss)
To mark the one-off charter, the A330 was decorated with special decals and logos. (Lenn Bayliss)
A celebration before the flight to Shanghai takes off. (Lenn Bayliss)
A celebration before the flight to Shanghai took off. (Lenn Bayliss)

Wellcamp’s first international flight was Cathay’s one-off freighter service in November 2015.

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Comments (11)

  • Russell M

    says:

    Wonder if anything special is happening at Badgery’s Creek airport?
    What’s that skip? Another impact study is underway? Ahh – come back in 2019? Ahhh ok then.

    • Thomas

      says:

      try swimming

    • Thomas

      says:

      try swimming around in cricles

  • Tim

    says:

    And how’s that New Parallel Runway at BNE? Not until 2020?

  • Steve

    says:

    Pigs will fly before any thing happens at Bagerys.

  • Myles

    says:

    Parallel Runway ahead of schedule 🙂

  • Joe Kochman

    says:

    It is amazing what can happen when forward thinking people put their money where their mouth is and actually do something.

  • Delighted to have recently joined the Wellcamp team. I’ve been a reader of Australian Aviation for 10+ years and love the publication. I’m responsible for increasing pax numbers at WTB and welcome ideas and suggestions from readers. Please feel free to email at Wellcamp or give me a call. Cheers Andrew Sinclair

    [email protected] Tel 07 4614 3200

  • James

    says:

    So this QF flight was a one off charter, was this just to say that it was an Australian Airline to do the first international flight? Now the remaining will be all Chinese Airlines?

  • chris robey

    says:

    Am fairly sure that CX operated the first heavy cargo flight out of Wellcamp quite some time ago…a 747 dash 8F.

  • Thomas

    says:

    10/10 great object to talk to

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