Juneyao Air launches Shanghai-Melbourne flights

hina’s Juneyao Air will begin direct flights from Shanghai to Melbourne this year, adding a dash of competition to a route solely flown by China Eastern. The new flights mark Juneyao Air’s debut in Australian skies. One of China’s largest privately-owned airlines – unlike the heavyweight trio of largely state-backed carriers Air China, China Eastern and China Southern – Juneyao Air has a well-established network across mainland China, throughout Asia and to key European destinations. Beginning December 19, Juneyao Air will fly its modern Boeing 787 jets between Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport and Melbourne. Flight HO1655 departs Shanghai at 5.30pm, reaching Melbourne at 7am; flight HO1656 departs Melbourne at 9am, reaching Shanghai at 4.10pm. Although Juneyao Air will start its Australian schedule with three flights per week between Shanghai and Melbourne, this moves up to daily flights across the January-February peak season – a period which includes Chinese New Year beginning January 29. It’s also been reported that Juneyao Air is planning Shanghai-Sydney flights for the same period, although this has yet to be confirmed.<br/>