Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said securing the new Qantas Dreamliner services from San Francisco and Chicago would boost tourism and business opportunities for the city.

“The US is Brisbane’s fourth largest international visitor market and the new services will help us grow tourism numbers, supporting our small businesses and jobs across our accommodation, retail, hospitality and service sectors,” Cr Schrinner said.

“These new flights will enable us to attract more business events and their delegates from the US while directly linking our local start-ups and businesses with major innovation, technology, investment and corporate hubs that have growing links to Brisbane.”

The services are supported by the Queensland Government via Tourism and Events Queensland through the Attracting Aviation Investment Fund in partnership with Brisbane Airport Corporation, Tourism Australia and Brisbane City Council via Brisbane Marketing.

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said the launch of 787 flights from Brisbane to Chicago and San Francisco would be a win for customers and tourism.

“This is fantastic news for Queensland. It demonstrates the confidence that we have in the local tourism industry and our commitment to the Sunshine State,” Mr Joyce said.

“This will give Qantas and American Airlines customers unprecedented access. These flights will make it one stop from Chicago to Hamilton Island or San Francisco to Townsville.

“These new services will connect both Australian business travellers and holidaymakers with key centres of commerce, industry and culture in the United States.

“I’d like to acknowledge the support of the Queensland Government for helping to make these new Dreamliner routes a step closer to reality, and we will work together on joint marketing initiatives to showcase the State and boost tourism.”

Brisbane Airport Corporation CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff said the new routes offered untapped potential for growth in tourism, trade, investment, education and business sectors that would ripple throughout the city and the entire state of Queensland.

“Brisbane Airport is excited to be partnering with Qantas and key Government stakeholders to bring these new direct links to Chicago and San Francisco to fruition,” he said.

“Relative to the size of the market and overall demand, Queensland has been under-served from the USA, and these new services will go some way to addressing pent up demand.

“Direct flights into Chicago, the heart of mid-west USA, and San Francisco the cultural, commercial, and financial centre of Northern California, are a game changer for Brisbane and Queensland, positioning Brisbane as the best gateway to and from North America.”

“These network connections will strengthen ties, investment and education opportunities with US companies and universities in areas such as digital technology, life sciences, biotechnology and renewables.”

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