Melbourne Airport welcomes China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines return

Some of China’s largest airlines are eyeing a return to Melbourne Airport, with international tourists set to boost the local economy.

Chief executive of Visit Victoria Brendan McClements and chief of aviation at Melbourne Airport after the announcement.

Melbourne’s tourism resurgence has been boosted with one of China’s largest airlines making a return to Tullamarine.

China Eastern Airlines returned to Melbourne Airport after reducing its service during the pandemic with one of its subsidiary-owned Shanghai Airlines arriving in Melbourne on Tuesday.

Flights from mainland China to Melbourne went from 70 a week to one flight a week during the height of the pandemic.

Melbourne Airport chief of aviation Jim Parashos said: “By March we’re hopeful of being at almost 50 per cent of pre-pandemic capacity from mainland China, which while very welcome, also underscores how much further we have to go.”

“To have so many carriers return so quickly shows the confidence China’s airlines have in Victoria and the importance they place on Melbourne in particular.”

After a significant period without Chinese flights, the airport will welcome back China Southern Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, Air China, Beijing Capital Air in the coming weeks.

Xiamen Airlines and China Southern Airlines are planning to increase their flights to three and 10 flights a week respectively by March.

Melbourne passengers will have more access to flights with China Eastern adding four weekly flights from this week. Sichuan Airlines and Air China will be flying three weekly flights from February while Beijing Capital will be at that level by March.

A recent Leaderpoll showed 80 per cent of readers were planning to fly overseas after the pandemic to underline their confidence in international travel.

The boost comes after it was revealed last week there were close to 2000 jobs available at the airport as tourism continues to grow.

Mr Parashos said the announcement could lead to a further boost in the number of workers needed.

“It’s so exciting to see China’s major carriers returning to Melbourne and the growth in the airport workforce that comes with that,” he said.

“These services will help bring hundreds of mainland Chinese tourists, business leaders and students into Victoria every day, so the employment and economic benefits go much further than Melbourne Airport.”