Hong Kong Airlines lands in Melbourne
Hong Kong Airlines, a Hong Kong‑based full‑service airline established in 2006, successfully inaugurated its direct service between Hong Kong and Melbourne in December 2025. Operating three times a week using the Airbus A330 aircraft, Hong Kong Airlines is Melbourne Airport’s 41st carrier.
Melbourne is the airline’s second scheduled destination in Australia, following its Sydney service. This marks a significant milestone in the company’s development, making it the second Hong Kong-based carrier in nearly two decades to operate multiple routes to Australia.
“The recent expansion of bilateral air traffic rights between Hong Kong and Australia played a key role in bringing this service to Melbourne which will contribute millions of dollars to the local economy. There are now more airline groups flying between Melbourne and Hong Kong than there are flying most Australian domestic routes, so it’s no surprise that consumers are making the most of the increased choice to head overseas or to come and explore Australia,” said Melbourne Airport Chief of Aviation Jim Parashos.
Shenzhen Airlines marks first ever flight to Australia
Shenzhen Airlines touched down in Melbourne on 23 December 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. The airline became Melbourne Airport’s 42nd carrier.
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 Shenzhen-Melbourne 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, totalling AU$312 billion (US$208 billion). Australian exports to China reached AU$196 billion (US$131 billion) in 2024, representing 30% of global exports.
China remains Victoria’s largest international visitor market, with 411,000 travellers spending AU$2.9 billion in the year ending March 2025 – up 23.3% year on year. By 2029, travellers from China to Victoria are forecast to reach 798,000.
Investments to improve infrastructure at Melbourne Airport
The arrival of Shenzhen Airlines and Hong Kong Airlines caps an active period for Melbourne Airport, which has added new or expanded services from Delta and Jetstar in December.
Melbourne is Australia’s largest 24-hour airport. It will open its new AU$500 million international baggage system, which will more than double the capacity of its existing system and its third runway is due to open in 2031.
