Juneyao Air Expands to Australia with New Shanghai Routes
Chinese carrier Juneyao Air is set to expand its international network by launching flights to Australia, marking its entry into the Australian market. Starting December 17, 2024, Juneyao Air will begin operating four weekly flights from Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) to Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD). Two days later, on December 19, the airline will introduce a new service between PVG and Melbourne Airport (MEL), initially operating three times a week.
The Shanghai-Sydney route will see flights operated four times per week, with the possibility of increasing to daily frequencies during the peak travel months of January and February. Similarly, the Shanghai-Melbourne service will be expanded to daily flights during the high travel season. Both routes will utilize Boeing 787-9 aircraft, which are configured with 324 seats, including 29 lie-flat business class seats.
This expansion will elevate Juneyao Air to the status of being the ninth mainland carrier connecting Sydney with China, a new record for the airport. The increased flights are expected to push Sydney Airport’s seat capacity to 101% of its pre-pandemic levels, reaching approximately 53,000 weekly seats. Melbourne Airport will also benefit from Juneyao Air’s new routes, pushing its Chinese seat capacity above pre-pandemic figures. The airport is currently undergoing a $500 million upgrade to its international baggage handling system and constructing a third runway to accommodate growing demand.
Scott Charlton, CEO of Sydney Airport, emphasized that this expansion underscores Sydney’s role as a premier gateway to Australia and highlights the strong appeal of New South Wales to Chinese travelers. Similarly, Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus noted that Juneyao Air’s entry is a significant endorsement of Victoria and its ongoing infrastructure investments. The additional cargo capacity and high-quality service provided by Juneyao Air will further strengthen ties between Victoria and China.
On the competitive front, Juneyao Air will be competing with China Eastern Airlines on both new routes. China Eastern currently offers daily flights between Shanghai and Sydney, with plans to increase to up to three daily flights by February 2025. On the Shanghai-Melbourne route, China Eastern operates daily flights and plans to double the frequency by late November. Additionally, China Eastern will offer seasonal flights to Perth Airport from January 24 to February 14, 2025, for the Chinese New Year period, operating three times a week with Airbus A330-200 aircraft.
Currently, the capacity between Australia and mainland China stands at about 55,000 two-way seats, approximately 75% of pre-pandemic levels. However, this figure is expected to approach 100% by the end of the year, reflecting a strong recovery in travel demand.