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Queensland-based East Air is resurrecting a pre-COVID service between Cairns and Hamilton Island.
The carrier will begin year-round flights starting 3 November, initially three times per week but moving to more frequent flights on larger aircraft according to demand. This will be the first time any airline has flown between the two holiday destinations since before the pandemic.
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“Passengers visiting Cairns or Hamilton Island will be able to book this new direct connection as part of their door-to-door journey,” said East Air CEO Alan Milne.
“This is an ideal opportunity for holidaymakers to maximise their time in Queensland and experience both of these exceptional destinations without additional costly and unnecessary travel and transfers.
“East Air has specialised in tailored charter flight services for more than 15 years. We are taking our operations to the next level by reviving a sought-after passenger service on this untapped route, which has potential to influence the future of regional Queensland tourism.”
According to Cairns Airport CEO Richard Barker, the revival of the Hamilton Island service – which had carried around 37,000 passengers per year in its heyday – will encourage more international travellers to fly directly to Cairns. The route was previously served by QantasLink Q300s.
“It is timely to be welcoming the return of a direct link to Hamilton Island as international visitor numbers to Cairns increase,” he said.
“This service will allow international tourists to explore Tropical North Queensland and enjoy the Whitsundays, without first requiring a stopover in Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne.
“Travellers will be able to experience luxury island leisure, world-class diving, ecotourism adventures and rich cultural highlights, all without leaving Queensland.”
Cairns Airport has been seeing significant growth, with international passenger numbers passing pre-COVID levels in 2024.
Several new and returning routes have already launched this year, including a seasonal Cathay Pacific service to Hong Kong that will return for the next summer season, Airnorth flights to Alice Springs, a Jetstar Christchurch service, and Fiji Airways to Nadi.
Cairns is Australia’s seventh-busiest airport for international traffic, with destinations including Tokyo, Osaka, Singapore, Shanghai, Bali, Auckland and Port Moresby.
The airport was this month awarded Airport of the Year for the third year running at the annual Australian Aviation Awards.
