A weekly re-cap of the events that have made news in Cairns over the past week.

Monday December 17, 2001 45th Edition

The main news of the week (and the decade) has been the announcement of Australian Airlines, and specifically Cairns being announced as the major hub the new budget carrier.

QANTAS announces Cairns will be a major base for new airline
On Tuesday, 11th December the people of Cairns received the most positive news in 20 years. Major Australian Airline, QANTAS, has announced that they will be launching a new subsidiary business called Australian Airlines. The new carrier is being described as a budget airline, aimed at offering flights throughout Asia. Cairns will be a major hub for the new airline with 30 flights per week when Australian Airlines starts to operate.

The spin off to the Cairns local economy is considerable with 350 direct jobs coming from the decision to have a major base for the airline in North Queensland, the building of an $18 million dollar facility to service the Boeing 767's that will be used by the Airline and the potential for an extra 350,000 tourists per year to visit the region.

The announcement has also reinvigorated the local tourism industry that has been struggling following September 11th and the collapse of ANSETT. Australian Airlines is expected to start flying in September 2001 with initial flights servicing several Japanese destinations, Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong. Four planes will be servicing these routes and a fifth plane will be introduced soon after the start date to service Korea and China.

Australian Airlines Chief Executive Officer, Mr Denis Adams stated that "Cairns was chosen as the land of opportunity for Australian Airlines and the opportunity lay in being able to jump from here to a number of key Asian destinations".

Mr Adams said Australian Airlines would offer connecting flights between Cairns and the Gold Coast six times per week, linking Queensland's two best-known destinations.

Many Cairns employers have already announced that they are planning to increase the size of their businesses and to employ more staff based on the announcement. Cairns Mayor, Kevin Byrne, stated, "this is the best news that Cairns has had in 20 years".

New City Heart unveiled
The people of Cairns had the chance to enjoy the City's newest development during a Carols By Candlelight event held in new look City Place. Described as an open style piazza, the response from most parties has been very positive with the new focal point of the City looking modern and inviting and enabling greater line of sight from one end of the City to the other.

New Japanese tourism advisory service announced
A new service has been introduced into Cairns offering strategic business advice for tourism operators trying to increase their share of the Japanese market. Two local businessmen, Phil Colbert and Giles Lort-Phillips, are offering the service. Both consultants have in excess of 15 years experience in the Japanese market.

The new company will specialise in assisting local tourism operators to develop products specifically for the Japanese market, negotiate on rates and to resolve conflicts. This is the first time a service such as this has been offered in Cairns with a positive initial response proving that there is a market for this service.

Traffic blitz planned for Christmas period
A statewide traffic blitz is being planned for Queensland in what has been a bad year for traffic accidents and fatalities. Queensland police have started a major television campaign to encourage drivers to slow down and to avoid drink driving at all costs.