The FINANCIAL — Melbourne Airport on September 30 welcomed the inaugural Beijing Capital Airlines flight to Australia highlighting yet more evidence of Victoria’s growing attraction as a destination of choice from China.
Beijing Capital Airlines will operate three weekly services departing from the Chinese city of Shenyang, transiting through Qingdao, en route to Melbourne, according to Melbourne Airport.
The young and energetic airline, which is part of the HNA Group, will provide Victorians with new travel destinations.
Famous for its beaches and world renowned Tsingtao Beer, the seaside city of Qingdao will prove popular with Victorians as will Shenyang, the largest city in North East China, which houses an imperial palace dating back to the Qing Dynasty.
With more than 820,000 Chinese residents passing through Melbourne Airport in the 12 months ending July 2016, China is the number one visitor market for Melbourne Airport.
Melbourne Airport has seen steep and continuous growth in Chinese routes, with Beijing Capital Airlines closely following the commencement of Xiamen Air services earlier this financial year.
Melbourne has achieved the fastest average growth from Chinese passengers over the past five years of all major Australian airports: 18.6 per cent each year on average.
Australian residents are also travelling to China in increasing numbers with Melbourne Airport’s outbound traffic growing by 6.8 per cent per year on average, over the past five years.
Quotes attributable to Mr Lyell Strambi, Melbourne Airport Chief Executive Officer
“It is my great pleasure to welcome the arrival of Beijing Capital Airlines to Australia and to Victoria today.”
“Servicing the cities of Shenyang and Qingdao, Beijing Capital Airlines will provide new and exciting travel destinations for Victoria and also continue to grow our relationship with China, the success of which is evident in the number of passengers that visit our state each year.”
“We look forward to a long relationship with Beijing Capital Airlines and sharing the success we already enjoy with other Chinese destinations.”
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