Calls for more China-Australia services

A campaign group has called for more air services between China and Brisbane, Australia.

A campaign has been launched to encourage more direct air services between Brisbane, Australia and mainland China.

The initiative is being pursued by the China Aviation Action Group, which comprises six interested parties including the Brisbane Airport Corporation, Australia's News.com reports.

Jim Carden, a representative of the corporation, said that the China market was growing by about 20 per cent a year, with 150,000 Chinese visitors to the state of Queensland alone in 2006.

However the lack of direct flights between the Asian country and Queensland has meant that travellers have been forced to make stops in cities such as Singapore, Hong Kong and Sydney in New South Wales.

"There is a huge opportunity for both Australian and Chinese airlines to service the Queensland market," Mr Carden said.

"With the opportunities that have arisen with the resources boom, the sustained growth in the Chinese economy, the attractiveness of Australia as a destination and the Beijing Olympics, we are convinced that the benefits will begin to flow for airlines willing to take on direct services to Brisbane."

The campaign comes as airline China Eastern prepares to launch a trial of services between Brisbane and Shanghai.

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