The first QF97 service took off from Brisbane shortly before 10pm on Monday night aboard the A330-200 VH-EBG, and will operate four times per week. The route is expected to add more than 100,000 annual seats between Australia and the Philippines.
Phosphate was supposed to be the outback’s next big economic opportunity, but one mining company says the cost of rail freight has brought its project to the end of the line.
Starting in June, the carrier, China’s largest and one of the country’s “Big Four”, will increase its A350-900 flights from four to seven per week between Brisbane and Guangzhou, adding 48,984 inbound seats to Queensland from China per year.
The US-based company has said the request builds on a bilateral agreement with the FAA for mutual recognition of approvals and certifications.