Brisbane wins bid to host major aviation conference

The Liberal National Government's Business Events Bid Fund Program has helped Brisbane secure the rights to host the 2019 International Air Transport Association (IATA) Slot Conference.

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Simon Birmingham said the IATA conference would bring more than 1,200 aviation professionals from 230 airlines to Brisbane next year.

"An aviation event of this size is great for local businesses and the local economy but also provides Queensland with the chance to show off to the world's airlines," Minister Birmingham said.

"Having the big hitters from the world's largest airlines in Brisbane next year as they discuss flight times and schedules is a big opportunity for the state to highlight why airlines should add a Brisbane route or increase services.

"With Queensland home to some of the most beautiful beaches, top notch food and unforgettable experiences, I wouldn't expect airlines to have any trouble filling seats if they offer more flights or new routes."

Queensland continues to grow its aviation capacity – with around 5.3 million inbound seats available into Queensland's international airports in 2017-18. Malaysia Airlines has also recently introduced a Kuala Lumpur-Brisbane route and Air New Zealand will soon kick-off flights from Queenstown.

Brisbane's bid for the IATA conference was supported through the Liberal National Government's Boosting Business Events Bid Fund Program which gives Australian industry bidding for international business events a competitive edge against other international destinations.

The $12 million program was launched in March 2018 and has already helped Australia secure six major international events, including the SportAccord 2019 conference on the Gold Coast.

The successful bid was made possible thanks to the joint efforts of Tourism Australia, Tourism and Events Queensland, Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC), Brisbane Marketing, and the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.