MEL International bonanza!

[soorox]

soorox, I've not calculated the numbers, but if MEL and SYD were compared, wouldn't SYD still be way ahead of MEL in nonstiop flights each week to and from mainland China?

Also let's not forget the great democracy in the Republic of China (Taiwan.) 'China' in the case to which you're referring needs a 'mainland' inserted before it, noting that it is an at times brutal Marxist dictatorship where freedom of religion and movement is either not permitted or not guaranteed.

politics aside, yes SYD does have more services and cities to Mainland China than MEL

SYD: CAN, PEK, PVG, TAO, XMN, XIY, CSX, CKG, CTU, SZX, HGH, NKG, KMG, WUH, FOC

MEL: CAN, PEK, PVG, TAO, XMN, XIY, CSX, CKG, CTU, SZX, HGH, CGO

As you can see, SYD is ahead, however MEL isn't doing too bad either when considering that BNE is only connected to 3 Mainland Cities. Both MEL and SYD are the core markets for flights to Mainland China and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

 

[Melburnian1]

...SYD: CAN, PEK, PVG, TAO, XMN, XIY, CSX, CKG, CTU, SZX, HGH, NKG, KMG, WUH, FOC

MEL: CAN, PEK, PVG, TAO, XMN, XIY, CSX, CKG, CTU, SZX, HGH, CGO

As you can see, SYD is ahead, however MEL isn't doing too bad either when considering that BNE is only connected to 3 Mainland Cities. Both MEL and SYD are the core markets for flights to Mainland China and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

soorox, great research. Travel agents claim to me that overwhelmingly the preference of mainland Chinese travellers remains to visit SYD not MEL. It's not so much that Melbourne isn't without some attractions (Great Ocean Road, Puffing Billy, Penguin Parade and increasingly good high end shopping in Collins Street plus a great selection of restaurants and hotels like QT), although from its profit downturn the attraction of Crown Casino is diminishing to high end mainland Chinese, but they claim to me it's more that "nothing" can beat Sydney Harbour and a desire to see the Opera House, nearby ocean beaches and the Blue Mountains.

Part of BNE's problem (apart from a perception that it is a nondescript city) may be the proximity of OOL to BNE, bearing in mind that OOL has not just gambling but what the mainland Chinese perceive as very attractive beaches and accompanying lifestyle.

PER is (perhaps surprisingly because to me it's a beautiful city with stunning King's Park, ocean beaches and Freo) even worse off than BNE isn't it in terms of attracting mainland Chinese airlines? CZ operates PER - CAN but that's all from memory.

 

[Caleb]

2017 is shaping up to be one of MEL's strongest with alot of new international destinations and airlines operating to MEL, so far there has been 10 new international route launches/announcements!

Here's a highlight, if you have missed the good news! 2017 has not ended yet, so there might be alot more to come!

View attachment 98531​

Thank you so much for this good news and sharing. hope to experience from one of this list.