Pilotcenter.net News: Another milestone was marked in the aviation industry as Juneyao Air successfully landed its first flight from Shanghai at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport on December 17, 2024. Adding to the list, this Shanghai-based carrier now becomes the ninth Chinese airline operating at the SYD airport, connecting two bustling cities. Departing from Shanghai at 6:00 PM local time, and reaching Sydney the next day at 6:44 AM after nearly 10 hours in the air, this flight will operate four times weekly, with plans to ramp it up to a daily service during the upcoming 2025 Lunar New Year season.

Dubbed as Australia's primary gateway to China, Sydney Airport sees increased connectivity between the two countries with this new service by Juneyao Air. Scott Charlton, CEO of Sydney Airport, expressed his gratitude, stating, “We are thrilled that Juneyao Air has chosen Sydney as their inaugural Australian hub, solidifying our role as the premier entry point to China from Australia.” Highlighting the significance of this route, he further added, “This new service from Shanghai aligns with the strong bond Sydney shares with its counterpart, offering ample opportunities for both our airport and passengers.”

Joining the chorus of excitement, Stephen Mahoney, Destination NSW's Acting CEO, echoed the enthusiasm, saying, “The launch of Juneyao Air's Sydney-Shanghai route marks a significant achievement for the New South Wales visitor economy. With China being one of our top-performing markets, this route will bolster connections and foster further growth.” The collaboration between Sydney and Shanghai seems promising, with more than 1.8 million passengers shuttling between the two cities in 2019, half of them directly linked to Shanghai.

With the gradual recovery of the Australia-China aviation market since the borders reopened in 2023, the upward trajectory continues, showcasing robust travel figures. Throughout 2024, more than 1.3 million flyers journeyed between Sydney and China from January to October, of which over 300,000 passengers traversed to or from Shanghai, underlining the resilience of this air corridor. The integration of Juneyao Air's service underscores a positive outlook for the air travel sector, forging stronger ties between Australia and China in the years to come.