Another major airline is set to increase flights to Melbourne, bringing more visitors to the state, boosting exports and creating hundreds of jobs – with support from the Andrews Labor Government.

Minister for Industry Support and Recovery Ben Carroll today welcomed Cathay Pacific’s decision to expand its Hong Kong to Melbourne services from four to seven flights a week starting next month. The services will expand to 21 flights each week by the end of 2023.

Backed by the Labor Government and Melbourne Airport, Cathay Pacific’s extra flights will add more than 365,000 seats to Melbourne each year and generate more than $172 million for the economy once fully operational.

Hong Kong is a major global financial centre and its international airport, where Cathay Pacific is based, is a key hub for cargo and passenger connections to North Asia, Europe and North America.

As one of the world’s leading international cargo airlines, Cathay Pacific’s extra flights will significantly boost exporters’ access to those key markets, with its fleet able to carry 25 tonnes of air freight on each passenger flight.

Almost 110,000 visitors from Hong Kong came to Victoria in 2019, contributing $243 million to the state’s economy. Of these, 62 per cent came for a holiday, 31 per cent to visit family and relatives and seven per cent for business.

Cathay Pacific adds to the growing list of major airlines the Labor Government has secured to expand their direct services to Melbourne this year including Qantas, Singapore, United, Emirates, Qatar and Etihad.

Victoria’s international aviation sector directly employs 6,700 people and supports thousands of other jobs.