Beijing Capital Airlines will commence flights between Melbourne and Hangzhou in June, opening up a new Chinese market for Australians.
The service will operate three times a week using an Airbus A330-200 aircraft, in addition to the airline’s existing Qingdao service.
The Hangzhou-Melbourne flights will depart Hangzhou every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 1550 and arrive the next morning at 0500.
From Melbourne they return every Thursday, Saturday and Monday at 0700 for a same day arrival back into Hangzhou at 1550.
The Beijing Capital Airlines A330-300 aircraft currently rostered on the route have a 1-2-1 configured lie-flat business class cabin, and a 2-4-2 economy class cabin.
Hangzhou will become the eighth nonstop destination in mainland China to be served from Melbourne, with the additional flights taking capacity in the Chinese market back to 91 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.
Melbourne Airport CEO, Lorie Argus, said that the extra capacity would increase opportunities for Victoria’s tourism, education and agriculture sectors.
ln 2024, Melbourne airport set new monthly records for international passengers in both February and March, but Chinese passenger numbers continue to lag, with the number of Chinese passport holders travelling to Melbourne at just 62 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.
Beijing Capital Airlines is a member of HNA Aviation and Hainan Airlines.
