SYDNEY, Jul 8 (NNN-AAP) – The Australian state of Victoria will have 10 more flights each week from China, according to a statement released, yesterday.
Ben Carroll, Victorian minister for industry and innovation, said that, China Southern Airlines will operate 17 non-stop flights per week to Melbourne from Guangzhou, and potentially Shenzhen, by the end of 2024.
Supported by the Victorian government and Melbourne Airport, the extra 10 flights per week are expected to offer almost 154,000 seats to Melbourne.
“Thanks to our partnership with the Victorian government, Melbourne has been one of the fastest markets in the world, to recover non-stop capacity from China, which delivers a boost to tourism, education and primary producers,” said Melbourne Airport Chief Executive Officer, Lorie Argus.
Data from the Victorian government showed that, China was the state’s largest international tourism market in 2019, with more than 675,000 visitors contributing 3.4 billion Australian dollars (about 2.3 billion U.S. dollars) to the local economy.
In addition, there are more than 33,000 international students from China in Victoria, making up 23 percent of international students in the state. With more than 6,000 tonnes of air freight capacity annually, these extra flights will also enable more trade cooperation.
China Southern Airlines Vice Chairman and President, Han Wensheng, said, the company is committed to providing exceptional service and fostering ties between China and Australia.
“Together, we can continue to build an air bridge between our two nations and promote prosperity for both Victoria and China,” said Han.– NNN-AAP
