Shenzhen Airlines will fly three return flights a week between Melbourne and the city of Shenzhen, starting in the final month of 2025. Shenzhen is China’s third largest city, with a population of more than 17.5 million. The airline is China’s fifth largest carrier.
China is Victoria’s largest source of international visitors – worth $2.9 billion to the state’s economy in the year to March 2025, a 23 per cent increase on the year prior.
To March this year, 411,000 travellers from China visited Victoria, with that figure tipped to rise to 798,000 by 2029.
With China also a source of mega incentives to Australia, the new flights will make Melbourne even more attractive to Chinese companies looking for an international incentive host.
In April, Amway China was the source of Australia’s largest ever inbound incentive, with around 16,000 delegates participating in a Melbourne and regional Victoria program. The incentive had a $100 million estimated value for Victoria.
“These extra flights are a huge boost to our economy – it means more visitors at hotels, restaurants and small businesses, as well as a boost to air freight capacity for Victorian exporters,” said the state’s tourism and major events minister, Steve Dimopoulos.
“This partnership highlights Victoria’s global appeal and the strength of our $40 billion visitor economy, which supports 288,000 jobs across the state.”
The new flights were secured with support from the $7 million Visit Victoria Industry Partnerships Program.
Melbourne Airport reported servicing its largest ever number of international travellers last financial year, with 11.9 million passengers passing through the airport, a rise of more than eight per cent on the previous year.
