New connections between Australia and China continue to open up as China Eastern announces a new direct service from Hangzhou to Sydney.
Commencing from 16 November this year, the airline will operate three weekly services between the two cities on its A330-200 aircraft with 234 seats split in Business and Economy class.
With the new route, China Eastern will serve three mainland China cities from Sydney along with Nanjing and Shanghai.
According to Sydney Airport’s Managing Director, Kerrie Mather, the new Hangzhou-Sydney route will bring some 22,000 China visitors to the city and contribute around $88 million in additional visitor expenditure per year.
Other benefits of the route, according to the gateway boss, is giving travellers more choice and convenience when travelling to China.
The new service also contributes to a joint agreement between Australia and China’s governments to double gateway capacity between the two countries before the end of the year.
Hangzhou will mark the twelfth mainland China city served by Sydney Airport and will follow Air China’s new route to Chengdu starting on 12 November.
“China Eastern Airlines’ new route to Hangzhou is a great example of the growth of services between Sydney and China’s second-tier cities, boosting the local tourism industry and economy.”
Kathy Zhang, China Eastern Airlines General Manager – Oceania
“This new Hangzhou route will complement the service launched in 2012 between Sydney and Beijing via Nanjing.
“As a new direct link, it will provide improved connections to Beijing, with services on alternative days of the week.”