Chinese Carrier Expands Australian Network Amid Strengthening Trade Ties

Shenzhen Airlines touched down in Melbourne Airport on December 23, 2025, marking the Chinese carrier’s first-ever flight to Australia. The new route, operated on Airbus A330 aircraft three times weekly, adds over 90,000 seats annually between Melbourne and China, providing connections to 90+ destinations across China, Japan, and Southeast Asia. The service was secured through the Victorian government’s Industry Partnerships Program, which matches government investment dollar-for-dollar with industry partners for destination marketing. AeroTime.