How about we fly to Hamilton Island for the weekend?
FNQ Tourism
A new plane route from Cairns to The Whitsundays is proving so popular that an extra weekly flight has already been put on.
The East Air service between Cairns and Hamilton Island started this week as a one-hour direct route on Mondays and Fridays.
The first flight was close to full, and forward bookings are exceeding expectations, so additional Sunday flights are set to start in February, managing director Alan Milne said.
“We have created a seamless corridor between two Great Barrier Reef gateways, which means visitors don’t have to choose between one or the other,” Mr Milne said.
“It is particularly attractive for international tourists who may not often visit regional Queensland.”
The new service is expected to bring significant opportunities to both regions, restoring the connection between two of Queensland’s most popular tourism destinations.
Flights have not operated between Cairns and Hamilton Island since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
At that time, close to 37,000 seats per year operated between the two airports, according to East Air.
Once the extra flight is in place, Far North Queenslanders will likely be able to fly to Hamilton Island for the weekend, leaving on Friday morning and returning Sunday afternoon.
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