Air China announces Melbourne - Beijing

[soorox]

CA will begin non-stop MEL-PEK services, operating x4 weekly using A332's, the current MEL-PVG-PEK service (CA177/178) will reduce to x4 weekly when the new flights start, the flights are expected to increase to daily from October 25.

Air China starting 01JUN15 is launching new service to Australia, where it’ll operate 4 weekly Beijing – Melbourne service, on board Airbus A330-200 aircraft. Reservation for this service opened on Thursday (22JAN15) afternoon local time.

CA165 PEK0200 - 1530MEL 330 x246
CA166 MEL2040 - 0630PEK 330 x246

Air China to Start Beijing – Melbourne Nonstop Service from June 2015 | Airline Route

 

[boomy]

Good news, more *A awards availability.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Good news, more *A awards availability.

Yup! And more connections from PEK on Air China!

 

[seanpodge]

Finally. A much better timing of flights for passengers transiting Beijing to other Chinese cities. The other flight via Shanghai was useless since I had to overnight in PEK to connect to HRB. All it needs now is to move to daily service and they become a serious contender. Certainly stops me from just automatically heading over to the SQ site when booking fares.

 

[soorox]

It looks like CA177/178 will stay at x5 weekly and will not reduce to x4 weekly for the moment, whilst becoming just MEL-PVG. Come 25OCT, CA will offer x1 daily MEL-PEK and x5 weekly MEL-PVG services, which gives CA x12 weekly return services exMEL, this move increases CA's presence at MEL by 60%.

Official Announcement by CA can be found here: https://www.airchina.com.au/AU/GB/i...e-Beijing_Service&NEWS_CATEGORY=AustraliaSite