Tourism Research Australia has reported the nation’s total tourism investment pipeline increased to $49.4 billion last year.
The boost was aided by a lift in investment in the aviation industry with investment in new aircraft valued at $26.3 billion and investment in aviation infrastructure at $6.8 billion.
Tourism Research Australia says Qantas Airways Limited
(ASX:QAN) group orders accounted for about $17.9 billion of total fleet orders with Virgin Australia Holdings Limited
(ASX:VAH) investment at $8.4 billion.
The report suggests some of this investment will result in increased capacities on domestic and inbound routes but airlines may also choose to use new aircraft on outbound and other routes as demand requires.
Qantas Airways and Virgin Australia are also understood to have options to purchase 54 additional Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft which the report speculates could add an extra $11.8 billion in investment if the options are exercised.
Qantas Airways reported a net loss of $235 million in the first half of the 2014 financial year.
