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NOVEMBER 22, 2024
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City to celebrate 150 years
Fiji Airways will use a Boeing 737 MAX 8 with 210 seats on three services a week from Cairns to Nadi from April next year. Picture: Fiji Airways
l CAIRNS REGION | Nick Dalton
Destination USA New route fastest way to North America from Cairns via Fiji
l AEROGLEN | Isabella Guzman Gonzalez A FRESH link to the Pacific and the quickest way to the USA from Cairns will take off with Fiji Airways operating tri-weekly flights from the city’s airport from April next year. The new direct flight Cairns–Nadi by Fiji Airways will be the first direct route from the Far North to the Pacific Island nation, three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays in a state-ofthe-art Boeing 737 MAX 8. Tourism Tropical North Queensland regards it as a key step towards the full
recovery of the North American market – the region’s second largest – which currently sits at 74 per cent of pre-COVID figures. The new flights could position Cairns as the first port of arrival for North American travellers. “This new service is an absolute game-changer to increase our recovery out of North America,” said TTNQ’s marketing general manager Lani Cooper. “The US is currently our second largest international market and has recovered by more than 73 per cent with 83,000 visitors and (with) North America collectively brought in 101,000 visitors in the past financial year. The Fiji Airways ser-
vice is going to speed that up,” she said. “It’s only 16 hours door to door, from Cairns to LA, which is huge. “This new service allows opportunities for the tourism industry to grow and leverage off the North American market coming in, extend length of stay and showcase breadth of experiences within the region. “With the 53,000 additional visitors that this service will bring into the region, we can see that that’s going to inject more than $160 million to the region’s economy per year, which is fantastic.” Cairns Airport chief executive Richard Barker said the commitment from Fiji Airways was initially for three years, but
it was hoped it would be extended if successful. “It’s a year-round service, three days a week, which is a great vote of confidence from Fiji Airways to start strong,” he said. “We look to establish these services as a three-year deal but the first year is the test, we’ve got to prove out the loads, we’re very confident. “It’s a big commitment from Fiji Airways and it shows that they’re confident in the North American strategy but also in the appeal of the spectacular Fiji.” Introductory fares start from $539 return to Nadi, Fiji. CONTINUED PAGE 3
THE year 2026 will be one Cairns will not forget as plans are underway to celebrate the 150th birthday of the city with a bang. It will include a year-long program with Cairns Regional Council-led celebrations as well as events and activities delivered by community groups and businesses. On Wednesday, the council established a ‘Cairns Celebrates 150 Years Advisory Committee’ headed by Mayor Amy Eden and Cr Cathy Zeiger as deputy chairwoman. Cr Zeiger (Div. 3) said all activities within the program would fit into three pillars: • Recognising Cairns’ past • Celebrating Cairns today • Looking forward to the next 150 years. She told the fortnightly council meeting on Wednesday it would be “a unique moment in time” and celebrate milestones such as the opening of the brick and timber Cairns District Hospital in 1912, the international airport in 2005, CIAF in 2009 and great events such as Ironman. “We want residents of all cultural backgrounds to participate and enjoy the year-long program,” Cr Zeiger said. CONTINUED PAGE 3
KINDERGARTEN INFORMATION EVENING! TUESDAY 26TH NOVEMBER 6:00PM to 7:00PM
You are invited to come and meet our Bachelor Qualified Early Childhood Teachers and learn all about our 2025 Kindergarten program.
TOPICS INCLUDE:
Canapes & refreshing drinks provided!
*Kindergarten Curriculum *Learning Outcomes *Free Kindy, Fees, Subsidy & Funding *Preparing your child for Prep *Extra Curricular Activites *Working together with our families
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