A route that is now only flown by China Eastern will now have a little bit of competition thanks to the introduction of direct flights from Shanghai to Melbourne by Juneyao Air, which will begin operations this year. The newly introduced flights are Juneyao Air’s first foray into the skies of Australia.
In contrast to the heavyweight three of primarily state-backed carriers Air China, China Eastern, and China Southern, Juneyao Air, which is one of the biggest privately-owned airlines in China, has a well-established network that spans the all of mainland China, as well as across Asia and to places in Europe that are of significant importance.
Beginning on December 19, Juneyao Air will begin flight operations between Pudong International Airport in Shanghai and Melbourne using its cutting-edge Boeing 787 aircraft.
With a departure time of 5:30 p.m. from Shanghai, flight HO1655 arrives in Melbourne at 7 a.m.
In the morning, flight HO1656 leaves from Melbourne, and it arrives in Shanghai at 4.10 p.m.
Despite the fact that Juneyao Air will begin its Australian schedule with three flights per week between Shanghai and Melbourne, this number will increase to daily flights during the peak season of January and February. This time includes the Chinese New Year, which begins on January 29.
According to another rumor, Juneyao Air is reportedly planning flights between Shanghai and Sydney for the same time period; however, this information has not yet been verified.
According to Lorie Argus, the Chief Executive Officer of Melbourne Airport, “We are thrilled to welcome Juneyao Airlines to Melbourne and look forward to working with them to make this service a success.”
The fact that they have chosen Melbourne as their first destination in Australia is a tremendous vote of confidence in the state of Victoria. Additionally, the quality of service and additional cargo capacity that Juneyao Airlines provides will assist in further strengthening connections with China.
The 787 version of Juneyao Air’s business class
These 11-hour journeys to and from Shanghai will be most comfortable in Juneyao Air’s 787 business class, which has 29 lie-flat seats constructed on the same Thompson Vantage XL platform as Qantas’ own Business Suites. When traveling to and from Shanghai, passengers will be able to enjoy the greatest possible experience.
This indicates that you will have access to popular features such as a 1-2-1 layout with direct aisle access and substantial at-seat storage space. Additionally, you will have a decent arrangement for working throughout the trip, particularly considering the fact that you will get complimentary satellite WiFi from the beginning to the end of the journey.
In the economy class, you will find the standard three-three-three seating arrangement, which has a 32-inch pitch, a USB connection, a 12-inch video screen, and complimentary WiFi.
The 787s that are operated by Juneyao Air will also be noticeable if you are able to detect them from the airport lounge. The fleet is decked out in as many as three different liveries, each of which has a Chinese Peony, which is the national flower of China, as well as variations on a motif based on a Chinese red silk ribbon.
Juneyao Air is a Star Alliance Connecting Partner, which means that customers flying with Juneyao Air have the opportunity to accumulate points or miles against the frequent flyer programs of ANA, Air China, Air Canada, EVA Air, Singapore Airlines, United Airlines, and Shenzhen Airlines.
Travelers may also utilize the miles or points they have earned via such programs to book a ticket on Juneyao Air, whether it is in the business or economy class.
As of the time this article was written, it is not yet clear which lounges in Melbourne will be made accessible to customers traveling in business class on Juneyao Air service.
There is no question that Juneyao Air is looking forward to taking advantage of the new provisions that will allow Australians to visit China for a period of up to 15 days without the need to get a visa, which will save them both time and money.
Those who are “citizens of Australia holding ordinary passports and traveling to China for business, tourism, family visit, or transit purposes with the duration not exceeding 15 days” are eligible for the Chinese visa waiver.
The advent of Juneyao Air will result in the mainland Chinese seat capacity from Melbourne exceeding the levels that existed before to the epidemic. This is in response to the fact that Beijing Capital Airlines has begun flights to Hangzhou, which is known as the “tea capital” of China.
According to prior reports, China Airlines, a Taiwanese airline, is planning to add a seasonal add-on or ‘tag’ leg to the existing Taipei-Melbourne route by introducing flights between Melbourne and Auckland. These flights would operate five days a week between December 3, 2024 and February 16, 2025.