Sichuan Airlines has become the latest Chinese airline to begin direct flights to Australia, with its first direct flight from Chengdu landing in Melbourne on February 28.
Securing the airline to Victoria has been a boon for Melbourne Airport, bringing to four, the total number of Chinese airlines offering direct flights from a number of Chinese cities, direct to Melbourne.
The new Chengdu-Melbourne service will operate three times a week using an Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft, providing an additional 850 seats across three services per week.
“This is a very exciting milestone in the development of closer business, education and tourism links between Victoria and Sichuan Province,” said Melbourne Airport CEO, Mr Chris Woodruff.
“[Sichuan] is home to more than 80 million people and the gateway to a region which accounts for a growing share of China’s trade, foreign investment and economic growth,” Mr Woodruff said.
Victorian Premier, Ted Baillieu said Sichuan Airlines arrival in Melbourne was symbolic of the strengthening relationship between Sichuan Province and Victoria.
“I am delighted Sichuan Airlines has chosen Melbourne for its first direct service to Australia, with Melbourne its second long-haul international destination after Vancouver,” Mr Baillieu said.
Mr Baillieu said Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, was a vibrant and dynamic city.
“We see the development of Chengdu as providing new opportunities for Victorian companies to grow their markets in areas including food and beverage, education, and sustainable urban design,” Mr Baillieu said.
“This growth presents infinite opportunities for deep and lasting engagement between our two regions and securing Sichuan Airlines was a major outcome of the 2012 China Super Trade Mission.”
“Sichuan Airlines’ new flight path to Melbourne offers enormous potential in supporting new links, be they business, education or tourism,” Mr Baillieu said.
China is Victoria’s largest source of international overnight visitor arrivals, after overtaking New Zealand in the year ending December 2011. In year ending 2011, the Chinese tourist market generated $816 million in visitor expenditure to the Victorian economy.
The commencement of Sichuan Airlines’ flights follows the signing of a sister-airport agreement between Melbourne Airport and Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport in 2012. ■
*Pictured above: Sichuan Airlines’ crew prior to departure in Chengdu of the airline’s first direct flight between Chengdu and Melbourne on February 28, 2013.
