China has reopened and its airlines have reacted. After the pandemic saw flights between Australia and mainland China drop from literally hundreds per week to a mere handful, the easing of China’s Covid-19 restrictions has seen many Chinese airlines return to Australian skies – or at least open sales for impending returns.
On the state of its China flights, Sydney Airport told Karryon there are currently three Chinese airlines operating passenger flights between Sydney and mainland China: China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines and Xiamen Air.
“These airlines have been operating passenger flights between one to two times per week over the last three years,” the airport said.
“Since the border has reopened with China, these three airlines have confirmed they are adding additional flights, and a fourth airline, Air China, has announced it will be offering flights to Sydney starting next month.”
Using its A359 aircraft, China Southern will up Sydney-Guangzhou flights to a daily service from 30 January 2023, while China Eastern will increase Sydney-Shanghai flights to three times a week from 19 January.
Utilising its B787, Xiamen Airlines will up Sydney-Xiamen flights to two times per week from 8 January, 3 times per week from 15 January, and four times per week from 29 January.
Following a three-year absence, Air China will recommence passenger flights to Sydney on 3 February with three flights a week using its 391-seat B777.
The airport says it expects to see more flights added to this schedule.
Out of Melbourne, only Xiamen Airlines is currently flying to China, but on Tuesday, Air China opened sales for three-times-weekly Melbourne-Beijing flights from February.
According to Melbourne Airport, China Southern is also selling Melbourne-Guangzhou from the end of January while China Eastern is selling tickets from 24 January.
MEL’s previous biggest market
“Prior to Covid-19, mainland China was Melbourne Airport’s biggest international market, with eight airlines offering more than 70 flights a week to 11 destinations,” a Tullamarine spokesperson said.
“In recent months that number has dropped to just one, with Xiamen Airlines maintaining a weekly flight from Melbourne to Xiamen.
“Following the relaxation in restrictions, other Chinese carriers have expressed a desire to resume service to Melbourne, and we are working with them to facilitate those flights as soon as possible.”
The airport said it expects flights to destinations like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou will be “extremely popular with travellers in both directions”.
“Each extra flight from mainland China will help facilitate the recovery of Victoria’s tourism and international education industries, as well as providing the state’s primary producers with direct links to move fresh produce into a significant market,” it added.
BNE still waiting
A Brisbane Airport spokesperson told Karryon there were currently no mainland China flights operating out of the Queensland hub and none scheduled at this point.
Cathay Pacific currently operates twice-weekly flights between Brisbane and Hong Kong.
The airport said there were around 14 direct flights a week between China and Brisbane in mid-2019.
Though it might still be some time before pre-pandemic capacity returns, the news is promising for those looking to holiday in mainland China, Australian tourism and airfares.
BNE predicted 1.7 million passengers would travel through its domestic and international terminals in January 2023, an increase of one million people on January 2022.
