The first flight from mainland China in four years has touched down in Cairns with the beginning of a seasonal China Eastern service. Flight MU571 arrived in Cairns just after midday on Thursday on board the 232-seat A330-200 B-8231. Operating four times per week, it will see 10 total flights for the Lunar New Year until 18 February, bringing 2,320 total seats into Cairns and the wider Tropical North Queensland region. The route is the first Chinese service into Cairns since Hainan Airlines ended a scheduled Shenzhen service in March 2020 due to COVID-19. “China is a key inbound tourism market, and these are our first direct flights since the pandemic,” said Cairns Airport CEO Richard Barker. “We are thrilled to be welcoming China Eastern Airlines today. It is clear that our region remains a destination of desire, and we expect these direct seasonal services will help to accelerate the return of visitors from China.”<br/>