China Eastern Airlines fuelling recovery with two new routes to Sydney

China Eastern Airlines A330 Flight MU7 12 landing at Sydney Airport from Auckland. CREDIT: SYDNEY AIRPORT

Sydney Airport is forecasting seat capacity to mainland China to be 97% recovered in December, compared to pre-pandemic December 2019, with help from China Eastern Airlines. 

By the end of November, there will be nine airlines with direct flights from Sydney to 14 Chinese cities, offering 85 weekly return services.

China Eastern Airlines is the latest carrier to boost capacity, announcing an Australian first route and its first ever trans-Tasman flight.

From November 28, the airline will be flying three return services per week on the A332 between Sydney and the city of Jinan in the Shandong province in Eastern China.

This is the first time there has been a direct flight between an Australian city and Jinan, famous for its exquisite underground springs.

China Eastern Airlines is also restarting flights to Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province. This includes an Auckland to Sydney leg, which is the first time the airline has offered trans-Tasman flights.

Just before 13:00 on 06 November 2023, the inaugural flight from Auckland, MU712, touched down at Sydney Airport, with the next leg to Hangzhou due to take off at 15:10. With the new route and additional flights, China Eastern Airlines is now servicing five mainland China cities with 25 return services a week from Sydney.

Trans-Tasman competition heating up

With China Eastern Airlines adding its Auckland-Sydney flight, there’ll be more trans-Tasman competition just in time for the summer peak.

By the end of the month, six airlines will operate direct flights between Sydney and Auckland, one more than pre-COVID-19, with seat capacity 99% recovered on pre-pandemic levels.

Airlines flying between Sydney and Auckland:
• Qantas
• Jetstar
• Air New Zealand
• LATAM
• AirAsia X
• China Eastern Airline