Air China becomes the only carrier to offer direct Melbourne-Beijing flights

As of 1 June, Air China has commenced Melbourne-Beijing direct, non-stop flights, becoming the only carrier flying from Australia to offer this service.

Official carrier of the People’s Republic of China, Air China now offers departures on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday evening (8.40pm) with inbound flights arriving in the afternoon (2.35pm). This will become a daily service from 25 October this year.

It complements the five times per week non-stop service from Melbourne to Shanghai currently operating by Air China, as well as direct flights from Sydney to Beijing and Shanghai. All of this factors ensure it’s the only airline connecting Australians direct to China’s most popular destinations and onward.

The decision to introduce the direct Melbourne to Beijing service reflects the growing demand from both business and leisure travellers in the Australian and Chinese markets. Over the course of 2015, Air China anticipates increasing its capacity from Melbourne by 60 per cent, the largest increase in a single year since the airline first entered this market 30 years ago.

Business and leisure passengers will enjoy the popular Airbus A330-200 for this service, with 28 flat-bed Business Class seats and the 199-seat economy’s generous 32” pitch. Air China’s Business Class passengers can also take advantage of complimentary chauffeur-driven limousine transfers in Beijing; inflight cuisine developed under the direction of a renowned Swiss chef Hans-Jorg Inauen; an extensive wine list created by France’s leading wine connoisseurs as well as on-arrival Lounge service in Beijing.

Flights start from $835 per person ex Melbourne.

www.airchina.com.au