Melbourne Airport has welcomed its 42nd carrier with the debut of Shenzhen Airlines in Australia. Touching down at Tullamarine today, Shenzhen Airlines will fly between Melbourne and Shenzhen’s Bao’an Airport three times a week using the carrier’s A330-300 aircraft. The new service adds over 95,000 seats between Australia and China.
The arrival of Shenzhen, a subsidiary of Air China, also takes Melbourne Airport’s total number of airlines past its previous record of 41 carriers reached before the Covid-19 pandemic. That total includes 10 carriers from mainland China, reflecting the demand for travel and trade with the Asian superpower.
“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,” Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus 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.
A high-tech hub linking Hong Kong with mainland China, Shenzhen is often considered China’s Silicon Valley. It’s also known for its food, shopping and dining experiences.
“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,” Argus said.
“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.”
Australia’s busiest 24/7 airport has seen a flurry of new flights unveiled and commenced in late 2025. Among these are Delta Air Lines’ recently arrived Melbourne-Los Angeles service, new Hong Kong Airlines flights, a new service to Bali and a historic Melbourne-Helsinki route to commence in late 2026. From 18 May, the Victorian capital will also welcome Australia’s first-ever commercial service to the Maldives.
Tullamarine’s extra capacity is also spurring expanded facilities at the Victorian hub.
“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,” Argus remarked.
With a fleet of more than 230 aircraft, Shenzhen is China’s fifth-largest airline, serving around 40 million passengers a year to 90 domestic and international destinations. The carrier is part of the Star Alliance.
KARRYON UNPACKS: For Aussie travel advisors, Shenzhen Airlines’ arrival means fresh China capacity, expanded schedules and a compelling new sell beyond Beijing and Shanghai, with Shenzhen doubling as both a tech powerhouse and gateway city your clients might want to explore.
