DUOBusiness | Promotion
THE commute along Ingham Road, past the Townsville International Airport, can at times feel as though you are driving on the Airport tarmac. It has and will always be a special part of Townsville’s makeup. Driving north-bound along Dalrymple Road has a similar effect, where as you gaze into the distance, you admire VA375 descending into the sun drenched afternoon sky as it makes its approach to the city. The same nostalgia can be experienced taking off on JQ907, where you can appreciate the sun rising over Magnetic Island, lighting up the Coral Sea as you make the journey south. Not to mention the significance of hearing the magnificent Blackhawks routinely taking to our skies, loaded up with dedicated personnel embarking on training exercises to equip them with the necessary skills to defend our country and ensure our safety. Townsville North Queensland’s aviation community has a long and proud history in the region, both commercially and Defence orientated, that continues to go from strength to strength. Connectivity is one of the most crucial factors contributing to the foundations of a successful city. Townsville International Airport is the centre of North Queensland aviation, where in the month of June 2016, a total of 135,954 passengers boarded flights to/from Townsville, experiencing a 2.8% growth increase from June 2015. The local tourism industry is continually attracting more visitors to the region each year, as well as increases in the visiting family and friends market. It was a significant milestone for the region to see the Townsville Airport regain International status in September 2015, again opening up Townsville to the world by air. In the 12 months that flights between Townsville and Bali have been operating, over 40,000 passengers have flown this route. Connectivity does not just stop with Bali, with the flight allowing Townsville passengers to continue travelling directly to over 15 countries, including Dubai, Singapore and Japan. One would be hard-pressed to find a friend, relative or work colleague who hasn’t either flown to the destination or at least considered taking advantage of the cheap airfares and booking an inexpensive overseas holiday. Recently announced Toowoomba flights have also provided a welcomed boost to Townsville Airport’s offerings. This connection will provide an additional economic injection into the region from Darling Downs locals taking advantage of the tropical oasis only a short flight away. At the time of the announcement, it was widely
reported how thrilled Toowoomba locals were by the prospect of having a direct gateway to Magnetic Island and the Great Barrier Reef. This connection will prove a relatively inexpensive holiday to escape unforgiving Toowoomba winters, and on the other hand, a chance for Townsville North Queenslanders to relax by a fire and experience an actual winter. The recently signed Defence agreement between Australia and Singapore will not only prove to be beneficial for Townsville’s economy, but also provide the extra incentive to secure a direct flight connection between Townsville and Singapore. The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will inject $1 billion into Townsville’s economy over the next ten years, and additional investment from supporting Singapore Army training over the next 25 years. This is an unprecedented agreement for not only Townsville, but also for Australia and Singapore. An estimated 14,000 Singaporean Defence personnel will be spread across Townsville and Shoalwater Bay as they complete training exercises for an extensive period. The agreement can also deliver opportunities of repeat visits from Singaporean troops following their conscription, as well as family and friends visiting the overseas based troops. Further international flight paths potentially on the horizon for the city include a direct link between Townsville and Auckland, New Zealand, and between Townsville and Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea. Significant inroads have already been achieved for a connection to Port Moresby, with Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, the Hon. Peter O’Neill, openly throwing his support behind
Air Niugini potentially operating between the two destinations. Opening up this flight route presents significant trade and investment opportunities for the Townsville North Queensland region. It will also provide ongoing economic benefits to the region’s tourism sector through increased visitor numbers and interest in the region. Townsville International Airport, Chief Operations Officer, Kevin Gill, has been working with all stakeholders to make increased connections a reality for the region. “Townsville Airport continues to work closely with Townsville Enterprise to develop both Townsville’s destination attractiveness and also deliver air capacity that aligns with the target markets Townsville Enterprise is pursuing”, Mr Gill said. “Growing international services forms part of this strategy, but the Airport also strongly supports Townsville Enterprises’ initiatives to attract more visitation from southern markets such as Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney”. The Townsville International Airport, Townsville City Council, and Townsville Enterprise have a strategic vision and action plan in place to identify and target new international and domestic flight routes. This vision will continue to be at the forefront of city leader’s endeavours to ensure Townsville North Queensland is accessible Australia wide and across the world. Continued growth in air connectivity will bolster the region, and firmly assert it as the economic powerhouse of Northern Australia and the true capital of North Queensland. www.townsvilleenterprise.com.au
DUOMagazine December 2016
115