Juneyao Air Launches Direct Shanghai-Sydney Flights
Juneyao Air has inaugurated its first direct flight route between Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) and Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD), marking a significant expansion in the airline’s international service. The first flight, HO1669, landed in Sydney on December 17, 2024, establishing Juneyao Air as the ninth Chinese carrier to operate at Sydney Airport.
The flight departed Shanghai at 18:00 local time, arriving in Sydney at 06:44 the next morning, completing the journey in just under ten hours. Juneyao Air has scheduled four weekly flights on this route, with plans to increase to daily services during the peak 2025 Lunar New Year period, reflecting strong passenger demand and growing ties between the two cities.
Sydney Airport, renowned for its connectivity to mainland China, now boasts the highest seat capacity to China of any Australian airport, a testament to its strategic focus on enhancing access to one of its largest and most crucial markets. “We are honored that Juneyao Air has chosen Sydney as its first Australian destination, cementing our position as Australia’s premier gateway to China,” stated Scott Charlton, CEO of Sydney Airport. He emphasized the importance of the Shanghai-Sydney link, noting that it fortifies the deepening relationship between the two cities.
The addition of this new route is expected to significantly boost local tourism and economy, as China remains a top-performing international market for New South Wales (NSW). “The arrival of Juneyao Air’s inaugural Sydney-Shanghai flight marks an exciting milestone for the NSW visitor economy,” said Stephen Mahoney, Acting CEO of Destination NSW. He highlighted that China contributed approximately $3.5 billion in visitor expenditure to the region in the year ending June 2024.
Historically, Sydney has seen substantial traffic from China, with over 1.8 million passengers in 2019, nearly half a million of whom traveled directly between Sydney and Shanghai. Following the global disruption of travel due to the pandemic, Sydney Airport has played a pivotal role in the resurgence of the Australia-China aviation market. In 2024 alone, from January to October, the airport facilitated travel for 1.3 million passengers on this route, including over 300,000 between Sydney and Shanghai.
This route not only strengthens the economic and cultural exchanges between Australia and China but also underscores Sydney Airport’s strategic initiatives to maintain and expand its influence as a key hub in the Asia-Pacific region. With the anticipated increase in flight frequency during major festive seasons, both Sydney and Shanghai are poised to benefit from enhanced connectivity and increased passenger flow, promising substantial economic benefits and enriched cultural exchanges.
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