One of China’s largest airlines has touched down in Australia for the first time with Shenzhen Airlines’ inaugural flight to Melbourne Airport landing this afternoon.

The Star Alliance member is a subsidiary of Air China and will operate three times a week from Shenzhen’s Bao’an Airport using an Airbus A330-300 aircraft, adding more than 95,000 seats to Melbourne each year.

Shenzhen Airlines becomes the 42nd carrier to serve Melbourne Airport, surpassing the 41 airlines flying from Australia's largest 24 hour airport before the Covid-19 pandemic.

Melbourne Airport was the first Australian capital city to surpass pre-pandemic levels of international seat capacity.

Shenzhen Airlines has a fleet of more than 230 aircraft flying nearly 40 million passengers a year with a network spanning more than 90 domestic and international destinations across China and to Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, the United Kingdom and beyond.

Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus said Shenzhen Airlines joined the likes of Emirates, Qatar and Turkish Airlines in choosing Melbourne as its first Australian destination.

“Melbourne and Victoria have a long and proud connection with China, and we are incredibly pleased to be strengthening that connection with the launch of this new service,” she said.

“Direct flights from Shenzhen will help drive increased spending at Victoria’s hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions, while also allowing Victorian exporters to send more of our high-quality produce directly into one of China’s largest cities.
“We know that every time the tyres of an international flight touch the tarmac at Melbourne Airport, Victoria is half a million dollars better off, so this new service will deliver benefits right across the state.

“Shenzhen is one of China’s largest cities, with a catchment of more than 17 million people, who now all have easy access to Melbourne and its famous dining, entertainment, sport and nature.

“It’s also one of China’s largest technology hubs and a fascinating gateway for Australians looking to explore the booming cities of the Pearl River Delta or beyond.

“To help keep Victoria connected, Melbourne Airport is investing in an expanded international terminal, a state-of-the-art international baggage system and a third runway.”