Government fund grows international flights to Queensland

By Andrew Curran.

The Queensland State Government is taking credit for attracting additional international flights to the state, saying four major carriers have recently decided to launch or expand services to Queensland as part the government’s AUD75 million (USD50 million) Connecting Queensland Fund.

In a late 2025 media statement, the Queensland Government said Qantas, Fiji Airways, Air New Zealand and China Southern Airlines were ramping up their international flights to Brisbane, with some government help.

Specifically, China Southern Airlines is increasing its Brisbane (BNE) services, moving from daily to twice-daily A350-900 Brisbane-Guangzhou flights year-round from March 30, 2026.

Additionally, Air New Zealand will expand its flights to and from Brisbane between March–October 2026, adding an extra 35,000 extra seats compared to 2025. The airline will ramp up its Brisbane – Christchurch (CHC) round-trips to eight per week and boost its Brisbane – Auckland (AKL) round-trips to up to 26 per week.

Fiji Airways will begin thrice-weekly B737-8 flights between Nadi (NAN) and the Gold Coast (OOL) from June 11, 2026. Qantas will also resume flying to the Gold Coast from Auckland on June 16, 2026, resurrecting a service suspended in the early days of Covid-19.

“We promised more strategic connections ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and this is just the beginning,” said Andrew Powell, Queensland’s environment and tourism minister.

Queensland Government partners with private sector to increase flights

The Connecting Queensland Fund sees the government partner with the private sector to secure more direct international and domestic flights into and around Queensland. The fund aims to build and grow Queensland’s economy. Government capital contributions must, at a minimum, be matched dollar-for-dollar by the private sector.

The terms of individual agreements are rarely disclosed but the fund, and its predecessor, the Attracting Aviation Investment Fund, have proved instrumental in luring additional international flights to Queensland.

The three big US carriers, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines, have begun flying to Brisbane because of it. The fund has also become a go to resource for local operators, such as Jetstar.

The Qantas Group owned low cost carrier has tapped the Queensland Government to continue or start at least nine routes over the past two years, including Brisbane – Osaka (KIX); Brisbane – Seoul (ICN); Brisbane – Bangkok (BKK); Brisbane – Cebu (CEB); Cairns (CNS) – Auckland; Cairns – Christchurch; Maroochydore/Sunshine Coast (MCY) – Denpasar (DPS); Gold Coast – Hamilton (HLZ); and Gold Coast – Dunedin (DUD).

International passenger traffic to Queensland increases

Australian Government statistics for the 12 months to September 30, 2025, show international passenger traffic through Brisbane Airport in that period grew by 68,136 passengers to 596,394. International aircraft movements at Brisbane across the same 12-month period increased by 398 to 2,954.

Across Queensland’s four international airports – Brisbane, Cairns, Sunshine Coast, and Gold Coast, international passenger traffic in the 12 months to September 30, 2025, grew by 97,888 passengers to 742,609 – a 13.2% increase. International aircraft movements increased 16.5% to 3,899 over the period.

Queensland Tourism Industry Council CEO Natassia Wheeler argues that improved aviation access is one of the most powerful levers for Queensland’s visitor economy. She says that the new and expanded flights show what can be achieved through coordinated, long-term investment. 

“We welcome the early signs of momentum now translating into tangible benefits for industry,” Wheeler said. 

Photo: Brisbane Airport Corporation.

Contact the writer: andrew@aerosouthpacific.com