Cathay Pacific has announced it will increase capacity and add more non-stop services to Queensland over next summer.

The additional flights come in response to the growing demand for business and leisure travel to Queensland. During the peak period from late October to March, the airline will replace its current four times weekly one-stop service to Brisbane via Cairns with direct flights to both cities. The switch means that Queensland’s capital will receive 11 non-stop flights from Hong Kong each week, while Cairns will be served non-stop three times a week.

General Manager Southwest Pacific, Cathay Pacific, Nelson Chin, said the direct services will depart at new times to provide even better connections for passengers travelling on the flights that previously made one stop before in each direction.

Flight CX146 which used to depart from Cairns at 2.55pm and arrive into Hong Kong at 8.10pm will now depart at 8.05am and arrive at 1.20pm, enabling greater connections to London (under 22hrs), New York and Shanghai.

CX103 departs Hong Kong at 9.25pm and arrives in Cairns, bright and early at 06.35am the next morning.

Brisbane Airport Corporation CEO and Managing Director, Julieanne Alroe, added that the news was “wonderful” for Queensland. These additional services into Brisbane Airport will drive tourism throughout the state and will offer locals even more options for their business and holiday travel plans.

Cairns Airport Chief Executive Officer Norris Carter also welcomed the announcement as good news for Queensland, saying, “it is a boost for the whole state that Cathay Pacific’s Queensland operations have been strong enough to increase capacity.”

The three non-stop Cathay Pacific flights between Hong Kong and Cairns each week will boost tourism in the region, bringing visitors to the Cairns and Great Barrier Reef region.

In addition to the new non-stop flights which will be serviced by A330’s, Brisbane’s existing daily flight will be served by the A350 from 26 March 2017.