Summary
- Juneyao Airlines will operate flights between Shanghai and Melbourne from December 19, 2024.
- Melbourne Airport’s flexible 24/7 flight schedule is attracting global airlines with new investment projects such as improving baggage handling.
- CEO Lorrie Argus calls for more flight rights for international airlines to meet demand and welcomes Juneyao to Melbourne.
Extended travel restrictions in China have slowed Australia’s post-pandemic air travel recovery and until these restrictions are fully lifted, international travel cannot return to 2019 levels. As restrictions were gradually eased, Melbourne Airport also worked closely with major Chinese airlines to plan their resumption.
The new airline at MEL
On Monday, Melbourne Airport (MEL) announced that Juneyao Airlines, one of China’s leading private airlines, will commence flights between Shanghai and Melbourne. Juneyao Airlines (Juneyao) currently serves around 200 destinations in Asia and Europe with a fleet of 92 aircraft, including Airbus A320 family aircraft and Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.
Photo: Juneyao Airlines.
From December 19, 2024, Juneyao will operate a base schedule of three weekly flights, increasing to a daily service during the peak season in January and February. This is a major achievement for Melbourne Airport as it will be Juneyao’s first time flying to Australia and these new flights will boost the airport’s seating capacity in mainland China beyond pre-pandemic levels.
Photo: Juneyao Airlines
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Melbourne Airport has added more connections to and from China as it moves steadily towards a 100 per cent recovery to pre-pandemic levels.
Melbourne Airport operates 24 hours a day and this flexibility is a competitive advantage when airlines want to provide services in Australia. Juneyao will join a list of world-class global airlines, including Emirates, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines, that have chosen Melbourne as a launch destination for flights to Australia.
Growing for the future
Melbourne Airport CEO Lorrie Argus has led the airport through several upgrades and new developments and has also called for a more liberalised handling of air rights to allow international airlines access to meet growing demand. Argus said the arrival of Juneyao Airlines underlined the need for continued investment in the international terminal and new airfield infrastructure.
“Melbourne Airport is now served by more international airlines than ever before. With average daily international flights worth A$154 million (US$102 million) to the Victorian state economy, the need for our investment in projects such as the international terminal upgrade and the $3 billion third runway is clear.”
Melbourne Airport is investing more than A$500 million (US$330 million) to upgrade its international baggage handling system at Terminal 2. The project will replace traditional baggage carousels with a new, state-of-the-art bin-based system that will enable real-time baggage tracking and pave the way for the eventual introduction of anytime check-in.
Photo: Melbourne Airport
Baggage handling systems valued at over A$50 million (US$33 million) have arrived. These improvements coincide with a major upgrade of the main domestic terminal and planning for the third runway. Argus said Juneyao’s decision to choose Melbourne was an incredible vote of confidence in Victoria and that the airline’s “quality service and additional cargo capacity will help further strengthen ties with China.”
Photo: Airbus
Juneyao will operate its flagship wide-body Boeing 787-9 on the Shanghai-Melbourne route, which is fitted with 324 seats in a two-class configuration. Juneyao has eight 787s, offering 29 lie-flat business class seats with direct aisle access and 295 economy seats. The average age of the aircraft is just five years. The airline also has 84 narrow-body Airbus A320 family aircraft, including 30 A320-200s, 16 A320neos, 26 A321-200s and 12 A321neos.
