The Victorian Government has announced a deal with Melbourne Airport to bring Shenzhen Airlines to Melbourne.
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Steve Dimopoulos today confirmed that from December, three new direct flights per week will fly to Melbourne providing an extra 95,000 seats every year between China and Melbourne.
Shenzhen Airlines is China’s fifth-largest carrier and boasts a fleet of more than 230 aircraft, flying nearly 40 million passengers a year. The direct flights will open up onward connections for travellers to more than 90 destinations across Asia and Europe.
“These extra 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,” said Mr Dimopoulos.
“This partnership highlights Victoria’s global appeal and the strength of our $40 billion visitor economy, which supports 288,000 jobs across the state.”
China remains Victoria’s largest international visitor market, with 411,000 travellers spending $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.
“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,” said Melbourne Airport Chief of Aviation, Jim Parashos.
“We will work closely with Melbourne Airport and Visit Victoria to efficiently facilitate two-way flows of trade, education, and cultural resources, delivering a more convenient and comfortable direct service for tens of thousands of passengers,” said Shenzhen Airlines Vice President, Na Na.
The deal is the latest agreement funded through the Labor Government’s $7 million Visit Victoria Industry Partnerships Program (VVIPP), an initiative from the Economic Growth Statement which sees industry partners match government investment dollar-for-dollar.
Since the inception of the program, a suite of new partnerships have been secured with partners such as Accor and Alpine Resorts Victoria as well major airlines including Delta Airlines and Air New Zealand, with agreements through the program collectively adding almost 300,000 seats per year to capacity in and out of Melbourne.
“As Victoria’s largest international market, this new route connecting with China will ensure even more visitors can discover what makes Victoria ‘Every bit different’,” said Visit Victoria CEO, Brendan McClements.
The deal comes as Melbourne Airport announced it had welcomed a record 11.9 million international passengers in the 2024/25 financial year – a jump of more than 8.3% on the previous financial year.
