SYDNEY WELCOMES NEW AIRLINE SERVICES FROM CHINA

A new service from Chinese airline XiamenAir will fly direct to Sydney from Xiamen and Fuzhou from November this year. Sydney is the first city in Australia to secure new routes between China and Australia since the expansion of the bilateral arrangements.

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events Stuart Ayres said the service was just in time for the busy holiday and Chinese New Year period.

“It is fitting, given NSW was last month once again named the number one destination for international visitors in Australia, with a record 3.3 million international visitors, with China placed as the top market for international guests to NSW with 500,000 visitors - an increase of 19 per cent from the previous year,” he said.

The five new weekly flights comprise three flights each week from Fuzhou, and two weekly flights from Xiamen. Both cities are located in Fujian Province, which has a population of almost 38 million.

Both routes will operate with new 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft and are subject to Federal Government approval.