The FINANCIAL — The fast-growing Chinese visitor market will receive a further boost from July when Xiamen Airlines commences direct services between Xiamen and Melbourne.
Xiamen Airlines, a member of Skyteam, will operate a twice-weekly non-stop service using a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Services will operate on Monday and Friday, according to Melbourne Airport.
Xiamen is located in Fujian province on the south-eastern Chinese coast and has a population of 4 million.
Xiamen Airport is a major hub for air travel throughout eastern China.
Xiamen Airlines is the second Chinese airline to offer direct flights to China’s rapidly emerging second tier cities, following the commencement of Sichuan Airlines’ Melbourne-Chengdu service in 2013.
Xiamen Airlines is the sixth-largest airline in China and offers services to 53 cities across China and 21 international destinations in Asia, Europe and North America.
The new service from Xiamen Airlines will support the growth in the number of Chinese visitors to Victoria.
China is the top source of international visitors for Victoria, with 731,000 arrivals from China in the 12 months ending November 2015.
Quotes attributable to Lyell Strambi, CEO of Melbourne Airport:
“We’re delighted to welcome Xiamen Airlines to Melbourne, and the opportunity these new services offer for more visitors from China to visit Victoria.”
“China has been a significant driver for growth in international passenger numbers to Melbourne, and our strategy of working closely with our Chinese airline customers is paying dividends in terms of more airlines offering more services direct to Melbourne from destinations across China.”
“These new services provide even more opportunities to strengthen the rapidly growing business, education and tourism relationship between Victoria and China which are being facilitated through our airport and airlines.”
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