China’s Donghai Airlines launches 737 Australian service May 30

Donghai Airlines is set to become the first Chinese carrier to begin long-haul services with a Boeing 737-800 on a twice-weekly Shenzhen-Darwin, Australia route May 30. Donghai president Yang Jianhong said the carrier can cut operating costs in half by using the 737 narrowbody instead of a widebody. “We are also considering changing this route into Shenzhen-Bali-Darwin or Shenzhen-Darwin-Bali at the proper time as there are a lot of passenger traffic between Bali and Australia,” he added. Yang also said Donghai and Darwin-based Airnorth are in talks on a partnership to use Airnorth’s network to transfer to different Australian destinations. A Boeing 737 MAX 8 is expected to replace the 737-800 on the Shenzhen-Darwin service when the carrier begins taking delivery of MAX aircraft next year. <br/>