Cairns will host one of Australasia’s most lauded tourism and aviation summits this year, the first time the event has ever been held outside a capital city.
Presented in partnership with Cairns Airport, the 2025 CAPA Airline Leader Summit Australia Pacific will take place at Cairns Convention Centre on July 31 and August 1, bringing leaders from the aviation, tourism and hospitality industries to the region for a series of strategic sessions aimed at shaping the future of air travel.
Speakers will include high-ranking executives from Australian and international airlines, as well as senior government leaders and subject matter experts from various air travel sectors.
Cairns Airport CEO Richard Barker spoke of the opportunities from hosting the event: “Hosting CAPA will enable us to welcome the cream of the aviation and tourism sectors to Cairns, the northern gateway to Australia. We will be front and centre as our industry’s top executives examine where we’re headed, with insights into local and global trends.
“We can also showcase why Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef remain iconic drawcards for international visitors and why Cairns Airport is working closely with our partners to increase access options to Tropical North Queensland.”
The summit will combine industry presentations, keynotes, high-level interviews and panel discussions on a range of topics, including regional airline capacity, consumer and passenger spending, changes in thinking around tourism and the influence of government regulations on travel.
Tourism and Events Queensland’s Ollie Philpot said: “Cairns stands as a vital gateway to Queensland, with 448,000 inbound seats scheduled for Cairns Airport during 2025. The increasing number of new flight routes to the region is a clear testament to its growing importance on the global stage.
“In April, Jetstar will launch services from Christchurch, and Fiji Airways will begin flights from Nadi. Additionally, major hub carriers like Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific operate direct flights to Cairns, enhancing Queensland’s accessibility for visitors from Asia, Europe, and the UK. Now is the perfect time for Cairns and the Tropical North to be hosting this important annual conference, to continue momentum and explore route development and aviation industry issues with partners from across our region.”
