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First direct international flight touches down in Canberra in more than a decade

Wednesday, 21 Sep 2016 06:29:43

The first Singapore Airlines flight landed to a water cannon salute. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)

Welcoming parties handed out flowers and the terminal was abuzz at Canberra Airport this morning as the first direct international flight in more than a decade arrived.

Crowds looking on as the terminal erupted into applause when a new Singapore Airlines service, flight SQ291, touched down.

It was greeted by water cannons and representatives from the ACT Government.

"Who's on board? Which celebrity?" one new arrival asked a pack of waiting media.

The welcoming party in the arrivals hall included two violinists and tourism ambassadors handing out tulips and daffodils to the disembarking passengers.

First passengers Photo: Passengers were greeted with flowers once they arrived in the terminal. (ABC News: Jesse Dorestt )

The plane's stopover was only fleeting, with a new round of excited passengers boarded and in the skies bound for Wellington within the hour.

The arrival caused fanfare in the capital, because the last time the city hosted regular direct international flights was in 2004, with Air Pacific's short-lived service to Fiji.

This morning marked the start of the eight-hour Singapore Airlines service between Changi Airport and Canberra, and another leg from Canberra to Wellington in New Zealand.

The Singapore to Canberra to Wellington rotation will run four times a week.

Singapore Airlines Photo: The first Singapore Airlines flight touches down in Canberra. (ABC News: Matt Roberts )

International flight numbers to expand

Canberra Airport boss Terry Snow said the site was currently operating at about half of its capacity, and it was hoping to attract more international services.

"We're talking to low-cost carriers from Asia and that would be a big boost for local tourism," he said.

"It was always our ambition to have international flights.

"We used to call ourselves Canberra International Airport but we got laughed at so much we dropped the 'international' for about 10 or 15 years."

Singapore Airlines Photo: A very wet spring day greeted passengers from Singapore. (ABC News: Greg Nelson )

The airport's managing director, Stephen Byron, said once the scheduled four flights a week were being filled, they could look at expanding.

"That is the focus for the coming years, to grow from four services a week to five services week," he said.

Mr Bryon said he hoped the Wellington link would lead to an influx of New Zealanders in Canberra and boost the relationship between the two cities.

"Some of the best things in life take the longest and this has certainly been 18 and a half years of hard work and challenges — but also a great deal of fun," he said.

External Link: Jesse Dorestt tweets the landing of Singapore Airlines in Canberra

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