Three Chinese airlines plan to offer new flights to Melbourne before the end of the year. Chris Woodruff, chief executive officer of Melbourne Airport, said the additional flights will allow for direct flights to Beijing as well as boost capacity.
"China Eastern will be increasing to daily Shanghai services from four flights per week and in December, Air China will be increasing its services from Beijing and Shanghai," he said. "This follows an earlier announcement by China Southern that its flights from Guangzhou are increasing to daily services."
In the year ending June 2010, Melbourne Airport handled 4.91 million international passengers –- 2.9% more than in 2009, while the airport’s domestic passenger volumes increased by 2% to 19.74 million.
Citing figures from the airport, Southall Travel reports that arrivals of Chinese passport holders increased by 20.4% — 10 times more than other nationalities — in the year to September.
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