Friday, August 23, 2024 Juneyao Air, one of China’s leading privately-owned airlines , is poised to make its debut in Australian skies with direct flights from Shanghai to Sydney and Melbourne . Set to commence later this year, these new routes will introduce fresh competition to a corridor currently dominated by China Eastern, while also filling the void left by Qantas’ withdrawal from the Sydney-Shanghai route. These services mark a major milestone for Juneyao Air as it expands into the Australian market.
Unlike the state-backed giants such as Air China, China Eastern, and China Southern, Juneyao Air has established a strong presence with an extensive network across mainland China, Asia, and key European cities. The Shanghai-Sydney route is scheduled to launch on December 17, 2024 , offering four flights per week. Shortly after, the Shanghai-Melbourne route will begin on December 19 , with three flights per week.
To cater to the peak travel season from January to February, which includes the Chinese New Year celebrations , the Melbourne service will increase to daily flights. Sydney Airport has noted that Juneyao Air’s entry will boost capacity on flights between mainland China and Australia, surpassing pre-pandemic levels, and making Juneyao the ninth Chinese airline to connect Sydney directly with China. While lounge access for Juneyao Air’s business class passengers at Sydney and Melbourne airports remains to be confirmed, the airline is expected to take advantage of China’s new visa-free policy allowing Australians to visit for up to 15 days without needing a visa.
This policy simplifies travel for business, tourism, family visits, and transit purposes. Passengers on Juneyao Air’s new routes will fly on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner , featuring a business class cabin with 29 lie-flat seats in a 1-2-1 configuration , offering direct aisle access , ample storage, and complimentary satellite WiFi throughout the flight. Economy class passengers will experience a 3-3-3 seating layout with a 32-inch seat pitch , USB ports, a 12-inch entertainment screen , and free WiFi.
Visually, Juneyao Air’s fleet stands out with liveries inspired by the Chinese Peony , China’s national flower, and variations of a red silk ribbon motif. As a Star Alliance Connecting Partner , Juneyao Air allows passengers to earn and redeem frequent flyer miles with major airlines such as ANA, Air China, Air Canada, EVA Air, Singapore Airlines, United Airlines, and Shenzhen Airlines. This partnership offers travelers the flexibility to use their miles or points to book seats in either business or economy class on Juneyao Air’s flights .
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