NEW CHINA-AUSTRALIA BILATERAL AGREEMENT PROVIDES BOOST FOR NSW TOURISM

NSW tourism will benefit from a landmark Air Services Agreement between the Australian and Chinese Governments.

Signed this week, the new deal immediately removes all capacity restrictions on airlines flying to and from Chinese cities.

Sydney Airport Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Kerrie Mather welcomed the historic agreement which will boost tourism and trade between the two countries.

“We’re delighted this new agreement recognises the huge potential of the Chinese market to Australia’s tourism and trade,” Ms Mather said.

“Our airline partners have expressed strong interest in the potential for new services from China, building on our recent growth and our position as a world leader in Chinese long-haul routes.

“The significant growth of Chinese routes since the last increase in air rights in January 2015 highlights the impact such an agreement could have.

“We’ve announced six new routes from China to Sydney Airport in 2016 alone, and from January next year we will be serving a total of 14 routes from Chinese cities,” Ms Mather said.

Sydney Airport will continue to work closely with Destination NSW, Tourism Australia and the broader tourism industry to capture new routes and services following the agreement.

The announcement is well timed in advance of the upcoming busy Lunar New Year period and is a positive initiative ahead of the Australia-China Year of Tourism 2017.

Image: Sydney Airport, courtesy Sydney Airport.