- China Eastern Airlines to launch special non-stop flights
between Shanghai and Perth
- Direct connection will begin as a Chinese New Year holiday
service
- Follows Premier Roger Cook's meeting with China Eastern in
Shanghai yesterday
- Service supported by the Cook Government and Perth Airport
Chinese
New Year Celebrations will start early next year, with China Eastern Airlines launching a four-week
special service between Shanghai and Perth.
The
announcement follows Premier Roger Cook's meeting with China Eastern executives
and Perth Airport in Shanghai yesterday, as part of his first official trade
mission to China as Premier.
Supported
by the Cook Government, thousands of Chinese visitors are expected to travel
non-stop to Western Australia on board China Eastern Airlines' special direct
flights as the country celebrates the nation's biggest holiday of the year.
Fourteen
inbound flights are scheduled over the Chinese New Year period - 20th January
to 18th February 2024 - with three services per week.
The
resumed connection with Shanghai is a positive step forward for the WA economy,
following a successful trial in 2020 before services ceased due to the COVID-19
pandemic.
The
special service will be used to explore options for a permanent direct aviation
connection with China.
Chinese
visitors have the highest visitor expenditure in Australia, while ranking
seventh for Western Australia.
With
the China Eastern Airlines' special service, the WA Government has now secured
or re-launched direct flights with 18 destinations since borders re-opened last
year.
China
Eastern Airlines' Shanghai fares will soon go on sale and services are subject to regulatory approvals. For more information
visit: ceair.com.
Comments attributed to Premier Roger Cook:
"China
is WA's biggest trading partner, so it makes sense that we have a direct flight
to Shanghai - the economic centre of China with a population of more than 26
million.
"The
direct link will be a major boost for our local economy, supporting a range of
different local WA industries and bringing thousands of additional visitors to
the State.
"Direct
flights to and from China not only benefit our tourism sector, but open up
significant opportunities for international education, agriculture, and
business exchanges.
"My
Government will work with China Eastern and Perth Airport to help ensure the
flights are a success, so it can become a permanent direct flight link in the
near future."
Comments attributed to Tourism Minister Rita Saffioti:
"This is great news that
we're welcoming China Eastern Airlines back to Western Australia for this
promising three-times weekly holiday-special service.
"Chinese visitors delivered
a total visitor expenditure of $78 million last financial year.
"While this is a positive
result, the pre-Covid figure of $367 million injected by Chinese visitors into
WA's economy demonstrates the importance of increased visitor numbers from
China.
"The Chinese market is
hugely significant for the tourism industry in Australia, and I look forward to
seeing the success of this service opening more opportunities for future connections, and strengthening WA's reputation as the
Western Gateway."
