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Two Chinese airlines are ramping up their Australian services in January, with the Gold Coast and Perth set to benefit from the new routes during the Chinese Lunar New Year period.
Hong Kong Airlines, in its first Australian connection to resume since COVID, has announced a non-stop service between Hong Kong and the Gold Coast over five weeks from 17 January to 15 February 2025.
The service is also the first between Hong Kong and the Gold Coast in six years and will operate four times a week, offering about 6,000 seats on an A330 wide-body aircraft.
“The route launch will mark our first step back into the long-haul market as we are gradually introducing more aircraft to support the expansion of our route network,” says Hong Kong Airlines chairman Jeff Sun.
“This includes actively exploring a return to the North American market, with routes to Vancouver, Toronto, Los Angeles and Seattle under consideration, to provide passengers with more international and diverse travel options.
“We expect Gold Coast to become a popular destination for our travellers, not only from Hong Kong but also from our extensive network in greater China.”
Gold Coast Airport sees Hong Kong Airlines’ temporary service as a potential stepping stone to regular flights between the Gold Coast and Hong Kong.
Amelia Evans, the CEO of airport owner Queensland Airports Limited, says the service will help elevate the Gold Coast as a destination of choice across key Asian markets.
“This will be our first direct connection to Greater China since 2018,” says Evans.
“We are hopeful the seasonal service will elevate the Gold Coast as a destination of choice in our key markets of Hong Kong and mainland China, and if successful, will translate into longer-term services.
“China has always been a critical visitor market for the Gold Coast and Queensland more broadly, so reconnecting to Hong Kong marks a positive step forward in our international recovery journey.”
Queensland Tourism Minister Michael Healy sees the service providing a welcome boost to the local economy across the Chinese Lunar New Year period.
“These seasonal, Lunar New Year flights to the Gold Coast will provide a real festive season boost for local tourism operators and hospitality providers and is critical in helping us build an $11 billion international visitor economy by the 2032 (Olympic) Games,” says Healy.
Meanwhile, China Eastern Airlines has announced a similar non-stop service between Perth and Shanghai, with 10 flights scheduled from 24 January to 14 February 2025. The route will be serviced by an A330-200 which has 232 seats, providing 4,640 seats for travellers over the period.
Perth Airport’s chief commercial and aviation officer Kate Holsgrove says the move is part of a renewed focus by the airport to growing direct services between China and Western Australia.
"Currently 66,000 Chinese visitors come to Western Australia each year, spending approximately $303 million,” says Holsgrove. “With additional flights, these numbers will undoubtedly grow and that will benefit the entire economy.”
Services to China from Perth will get a boost later this year as China Southern Airlines makes a return with three flights a week to Guangzhou, while Cathay Pacific will increase flights to Hong Kong from six to eleven per week.
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