Chinese airlines are boosting their services to Australia and New Zealand with more seasonal and year-round services.
Late last year, Australian and New Zealand airports announced a string of new services by the likes of China Southern and Shenzhen airlines.
SYDNEY AIRPORT
China Southern Airlines says it will expand its Sydney–Guangzhou service to a record three permanent daily flights as of March 30, 2026.
Sydney Airport says the airline will increase its services from two daily to three daily flights during the Northern summer to match its three daily Northern winter schedule with a fourth daily service during the Chinese New Year period.
The airport says this decision will result in an extra 420 return flights and nearly 125,000 more seats onboard a Boeing 787 Dreamliner during one of its busiest travel periods of the year.
The airport’s Group Executive for Aviation Growth and Group Strategy, Greg Botham describes the decision as “a great step forward” for travel between Sydney and China.
“It’s a strong vote of confidence in Sydney.”
China Southern Airlines Regional General Manager, Jason Sun, says the expansion “represents the highest level of service China Southern Airlines ever operated between Sydney and Guangzhou”.
MELBOURNE AIRPORT’S CHINESE SERVICES
Meanwhile, Air China’s subsidiary airline Shenzhen Airlines’ will fly three times a week from its base at Bao’an Airport to Melbourne Airport, using an Airbus A330-300 aircraft.
This will add more than 95,000 seats annually, the airport estimates.
Airport CEO Lorie Argus says Shenzhen joined the likes of Emirates, Qatar and Turkish Airlines in choosing Melbourne as its first Australian destination.
“We know that every time the tyres of an international flight touch the tarmac at Melbourne Airport, Victoria is $500,000 better off so this new service will deliver benefits right across the state.”
The greater Shenzhen region is home to more than 17 million people and is one of China’s largest technology hubs, she says.
“To help keep Victoria connected, Melbourne Airport is investing in an expanded international terminal, a state-of-the-art international baggage system and a third runway.”
Meanwhile, the airport also welcomed Hong Kong Airlines who are now flying a widebody Airbus A330 aircraft three times a week from Melbourne, adding more than 93,000 seats annually.
The flights began after the recent expansion of bilateral air traffic rights between Hong Kong and Australia.
Airport Chief of Aviation Jim Parashos says the inaugural Hong Kong flight late last month highlights the direct impact that expanded bilateral agreements can have.
“The recent expansion of bilateral air traffic rights … played a key role in bringing this service to Melbourne,” he says.
“There are now more airline groups flying between Melbourne and Hong Kong than there are flying most Australian domestic routes so it’s no surprise that consumers are making the most of the increased choice to head overseas or explore Australia.”
Hong Kong Airlines chairman Tony Ma said he was delighted to have launched the service.
“Melbourne’s … contrasting seasons to Hong Kong make it an ideal year-round holiday destination,” he said.
“We know that every time the tires of an international flight touch the tarmac at Melbourne Airport, Victoria is $500,000 better off so this new service will deliver benefits right across the state.” Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus
PERTH AIRPORT
China Southern Airlines is also flying three times a week, direct, year-round between Perth and Guangzhou.
The Chinese airline’s use of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft is expected to add 85,800 seats annually.
Perth Airport’s Chief Commercial and Aviation Officer Kate Holsgrove says the airline’s decision to operate a permanent service follows the success of its seasonal service which started last November and runs to March.
“China represents Western Australia’s fourth largest international market by visitor number with 65,000 visitors in FY2025, injecting $457m into the economy,” she says.
“Chinese visitors deliver the highest tourism spend in Western Australia; travellers typically stay seven nights and explore multiple regions across the state, according to Tourism WA.”
BRISBANE AIRPORT
China Southern Airlines is ramping up its Guangzhou–Brisbane service with new twice-daily flights year-round from March 30.
The new schedule will add more than 114,000 extra seats into Brisbane every year using the next-generation Airbus A350 aircraft.
Brisbane Airport CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff says the boost makes it the most frequently operated by the Chinese airline to his airport.
“Moving to double-daily flights year-round will supercharge Brisbane’s connectivity and give travellers greater choice and flexibility when flying to and from China.”
Tourism Minister Andrew Powell says each new flight delivers more opportunity.
The Chinese airline’s Regional General Manager, Jason Sun says the new schedule reflects continual demand from both sides.
“This capacity enhancement reflects our long-term confidence and directly responds to growing demand for business, tourism, cultural exchange and family travel.”
AUCKLAND AIRPORT (NZ)
Sichuan Airlines is doubling its Chengdu–Auckland direct service to twice a week using an Airbus A350 aircraft.
Auckland Airport Chief Customer Officer Scott Tasker says Chengdu is the airport’s eighth destination in China.
“Over the coming summer, we expect up to 50 flights a week will connect Auckland with China,” he says.
New Zealand Tourism Minister Louise Upston says China is her country’s second largest export market which her government will tap to boost economic growth and tourism.
Kevin Wen, the Regional Director Australia & New Zealand for Sichuan Airlines, says they “long valued the New Zealand market”.
Chengdu is the capital city of Sichuan Province in China and home to 20 million people.
Tasker says they expect the new service to bring around 22,000 more visitors annually, raising NZ$130m (A$112m) in revenue.
Auckland Airport also estimates the service could support up to NZ$150m ($129m) in annual import-export cargo.
• China Eastern Airlines is also planning to use Auckland as a gateway hub for flights to South America.
The Chinese air carrier is connecting its hub at Shanghai Pudong Airport to Bueno Aires, Argentina, via Auckland with two weekly services as well as its current daily Shanghai–Auckland service.
China Eastern Airlines also operate flights from Hangzhou to Auckland and from Hangzhou via Sydney to Auckland.
NZ Prime Minister Christopher Luxon expects the new service to raise an extra NZ$48m (A$41.3m) in visitor spending annually in New Zealand.
China Eastern Airlines Chairman Wang Zhiqing says since the launch of their Auckland route in 2014, strong demand has ensured that they continued to increase capacity.
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