Shenzhen Airlines to Launch Shenzhen–Melbourne Flights

Shenzhen Airlines will enter the Australian market in late December with its first flights to Melbourne. The new service between Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport and Melbourne Airport (MEL) will begin on Dec. 22, operating three times a week with Airbus A330-300 aircraft, according to the carrier’s booking system and AeroRoutes. Australia will become the 15th international country in the Star Alliance member’s network.

Melbourne currently has nine routes to mainland China, served by airlines including Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and China Southern Airlines, connecting the city to Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, and Shanghai Pudong. OAG data shows more than 26,000 two-way weekly seats between MEL and mainland China, up 11% year-on-year.

From Shenzhen, the only current nonstop to Australia is China Southern’s thrice-weekly service to Sydney. Across the broader China–Australia market, capacity totals around 68,000 two-way weekly seats, a 19% increase from 2024. China Eastern leads with 37 weekly flights, followed by China Southern with 34 and Xiamen Airlines with 14.

Shenzhen Airlines’ expansion comes as Melbourne Airport continues to attract new carriers. Hong Kong Airlines will launch flights in December, becoming MEL’s 39th international airline, operating three times weekly with A330s under expanded Hong Kong–Australia traffic rights.

For the financial year ending June 30, Melbourne handled 11.9 million international passengers, up 8.3% from the previous year, alongside 24.2 million domestic travelers. Total passenger traffic reached 36.2 million, with domestic growth remaining flat year-on-year.

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