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 |
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David
says:Would like to see Qantas order more 787’s to make greater inroads into the Chinese market. And for these to be from more places than just Sydney.
D bell
says:Alan joyce will not want to hack off Sydney Airport, as qf massages the high px fee structure in return for flexible approaches for slot time
Mike
says:Still wondering why qantas doesnt invest in the well proven and early 747 replacement the 77W or 777-300ER which in Qantas 3 class configuration would easily be able to fly melb-lax/syd-lax non stop return as well or even better the next gen 777’s the 777-8/777-9 aircraft that will be coming into service in a few years
Would be so nice to see qf fly these beautiful aircraft that so many prestigious airlines like emirates,singapore,etihad and British Airways have grown to rely on and in the case of emirates which operate well over 100 of the type have made the backbone of their international operations and still continue to invest big in. Instead qantas would rather see its economy passengers suffer for 16 straight hours on the b787 from perth to london direct, not that there is anything wrong with the dreamliner it is just way too narrow for 9 abreast 3 3 3 config on a non stop 15+ hour journey. Which im sure the 777-300er would also do configured intelligently. It would just do it so much more confortably. Configured 9 abreast economy instead of 10 abreast that other airlines do i think this aircraft would do the route more justice over the dreamliner.