Australia’s Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport has seen Cathay Pacific launch an additional freight service with a weekly cargo-only Boeing 777-300 Hong Kong service for six weeks starting June 14.
Cathay Pacific will continue its current Boeing 747-8F service which operates from Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport to Hong Kong every Tuesday.
Said an airport spokesperson: “Due to COVID-19, many airlines are using passenger aircraft for cargo-only operations. The increased flight capacity from Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport is assisted by the International Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM).”
The IFAM is a temporary measure by the Australian Government to help restore critical global supply chains which have been heavily impacted by COVID-19.
DHL, Qatar, and Etihad are among a number of cargo industry players taking part in IFAM.
The airport is 150km from Brisbane and has road connectivity to Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. It is located within Australia’s two most productive agricultural regions and is close to Queensland’s gas fields in the Surat Basin.
Added the airport spokesperson: “The arrival of the Cathay Pacific Boeing 777-300 will be the first of its kind to land in the Darling Downs Region, exporting directly to Hong Kong.
“As demand for Australian goods from international markets increase, it is expected that Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport will see a similar trajectory with freight services operating.
“The recent announcement of the Toowoomba Wellcamp Regional Trade Distribution Centre, supported by the by the Palaszczuk Government, sees the airport keeping up with forecasted demand to accommodate for future growth in national & international air cargo from Toowoomba.”
