China Eastern Airlines is increasing its flights between Melbourne and Shanghai from next month and adding new services between Melbourne and Nanjing, a city of nearly 10 million people in China’s east.
Introduced with the support of the Victorian state government, the new flights will add 100,000 seats into Melbourne per year and are expected to inject $205 million into the economy.
“By supporting China Eastern Airlines to deliver extra flights to Victoria, we’re strengthening trade and tourism ties with our biggest trading partner and creating more jobs in our aviation and tourism industries,” said Victoria’s minister for jobs and industry, Natalie Hutchins.
More flights from China will also make Melbourne a more attractive incentive destination for Chinese companies.
“This represents a significant moment for us,” said China Eastern Airlines’ general manager of marketing and sales for Oceania, Jim Young.
“We anticipate that the upcoming expansion of flights from Shanghai to Melbourne, coupled with the launch of Melbourne-Nanjing services, will significantly contribute to China Eastern Airlines’ continued growth and stability within the Australian, particularly Victorian, aviation market.”
Meanwhile, across the Tasman, Air New Zealand has increased its flights between Auckland and Bali to run year round.
The airline will run three flights a week to Bali between November and February for the first time.
“As the only airline offering a direct connection between Aotearoa and Bali, Kiwis heading off on a Bali break over the summer months no longer need to fly with a stopover,” said Air New Zealand’s chief customer and sales officer, Leanne Geraghty.
“With more than 800 seats available to Bali each week between November and February there are more options than ever to explore the popular Indonesian islands and all they have to offer.”
These new flights may entice more New Zealand groups to meet or undertake incentive travel to Bali in the quieter shoulder season.
