UK is Australia’s third largest source market – but can Perth make direct service a winner?

BTN News
Sunday, 11 December 2016

An Australian federal government press release says the United Kingdom is Australia’s third largest source market for international visitors, with more than 660,000 UK tourists visiting Australia in the last year alone and spending A$3.7 billion.


And Tourism Research Australia survey figures indicate Perth saw about 142,800 UK-originating visitors in the January-June 2015 period, about 43 per cent (annualised) of the estimated total.


In the same half year period in 2016, the comparable survey figure was 147,900, an increase of 3.6 per cent - but the three-year trend was down two per cent.


Allowing for errors in the survey results, the decision by Qantas to operate a direct Perth-London, UK service from 2018 (see ‘Qantas to operate London non-stop service’) indicates the carrier has a high level of confidence in the planned service, despite some industry concern over economy class demand on the route, given the 17-hour or so flight time.


Premium demand is expected to be stronger, but also is an unknown.

UK is Australia’s third largest source market – but can Perth make direct service a winner?

BTN News
Sunday, 11 December 2016

An Australian federal government press release says the United Kingdom is Australia’s third largest source market for international visitors, with more than 660,000 UK tourists visiting Australia in the last year alone and spending A$3.7 billion.


And Tourism Research Australia survey figures indicate Perth saw about 142,800 UK-originating visitors in the January-June 2015 period, about 43 per cent (annualised) of the estimated total.


In the same half year period in 2016, the comparable survey figure was 147,900, an increase of 3.6 per cent - but the three-year trend was down two per cent.


Allowing for errors in the survey results, the decision by Qantas to operate a direct Perth-London, UK service from 2018 (see ‘Qantas to operate London non-stop service’) indicates the carrier has a high level of confidence in the planned service, despite some industry concern over economy class demand on the route, given the 17-hour or so flight time.


Premium demand is expected to be stronger, but also is an unknown.