Shenzhen Airlines touched down in Melbourne Airport (MEL) on December 23, 2025, marking the Chinese carrier’s first-ever flight to Australia and establishing a new direct connection between the Victorian capital and the southern Chinese technology hub.
Shenzhen Airlines operates the route on its Airbus A330 aircraft three times weekly, adding more than 90,000 seats annually between Melbourne and China. The service provides connections to over 90 destinations across China, Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, the UK, etc.
The arrival caps an active period for Melbourne Airport, which has added new or expanded services from Delta, Hong Kong Airlines, Jetstar over the last 18 days. Finnair is also scheduled to launch daily services in 2026.
Victorian Minister for Industry and Advanced Manufacturing Colin Brooks joined Melbourne Airport Chief of Aviation Jim Parashos, Chinese Consul-General Fang Xinwen, and Shenzhen Airlines Chair Li Shuxing to celebrate the inaugural flight at the airport.
The flights were secured through the Victorian government’s Industry Partnerships Program, part of the Economic Growth Statement, which matches government investment dollar-for-dollar with industry partners for destination marketing.
The new route is expected to benefit tourism operators, while also creating freight opportunities for local exporters and producers to reach key markets in southern China. Victorian travelers will gain additional travel options and connections through Shenzhen, a coastal city near Hong Kong known as a modern hub for technology, commerce, and culture.
The service launch comes as Australia-China trade relations continue to strengthen. China is Australia’s largest two-way trading partner, accounting for 25% of goods and services trade in 2024, totaling AU$312 billion (US$208 billion). Australian exports to China reached AU$196 billion (US$131 billion) in 2024, representing 30% of global exports.
