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Chinese carrier Shenzhen Airlines has chosen Melbourne as its first destination in Australia.
Starting 23 December, the airline will fly three times per week return between Melbourne and Shenzhen using Airbus A330-200 aircraft, adding 95,000 seats per year to mainland China. It comes as Melbourne Airport marks its busiest ever July for international travel.
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Shenzhen Airlines, China’s fifth-largest carrier, will be the 10th Chinese airline and 40th international carrier to operate to Melbourne Airport, which saw a record 1,042,522 passengers through its international terminal in July 2025 – up 4 per cent on the same time last year.
In total, Melbourne saw 11.9 million international passengers across the whole FY2024–25, up more than 8.3 per cent on 2023–24.
“Shenzhen Airlines’ decision to choose Melbourne as its first Australian destination reinforces Melbourne Airport’s position as Australia’s 24/7 international gateway,” said Melbourne Airport chief of aviation Jim Parashos.
“This announcement is a significant milestone in Melbourne Airport’s international growth story as we continue to bring competition and choice into the market for our passengers.
“Shenzhen is a vibrant, cosmopolitan city for travellers to explore, but it’s also a global hub for tech, electronics, and manufacturing that Victorian producers will now have direct access to.”
According to Shenzhen Airlines vice president Na Na, the new service will bolster connectivity and trade between Australia and China.
“The new Shenzhen–Melbourne direct route marks a pivotal milestone in Shenzhen Airlines’ global strategy, serving as a vital air bridge deepening ties between the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area and Victoria,” she said.
“Our close collaboration with Melbourne Airport will efficiently facilitate two-way flows of trade, education and cultural exchanges, delivering a more convenient and comfortable direct service for tens of thousands of passengers.”
Around 411,000 Chinese travellers spent $2.9 billion in Victoria in the year ending March 2025, up 23.3 per cent year on year, making it Victoria’s largest international market.
According to the state’s Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos, the 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,” he said.
“This partnership highlights Victoria’s global appeal and the strength of our $40-billion visitor economy, which supports 288,000 jobs across the state.”
Melbourne also saw 2,152,650 domestic passengers in July, up 5.4 per cent on the previous year.
