China’s Hainan Airlines will link Melbourne with Xi’an from November as it commences return non-stop flights on two days each week.
Using an Airbus A330-200 aircraft, guests can stretch out in one of 36 fully-flat business class beds, configured in a 2-2-2 layout…
… the same being flown on the airline’s new Sydney-Xi’an and Sydney-Changsha routes from mid-September.
Read: Hainan returns to Sydney with Xi'an, Changsha flights
From Wednesday November 2, flight HU7902 is wheels-up in Melbourne at 9am on Wednesdays and Saturdays, touching down in Xi’an at 5:30pm that same evening after an 11.5-hour journey.
On the return, HU7901 takes to the skies on Tuesdays and Fridays from November 1, pushing back at 4:30pm for a 7am arrival into Melbourne the following morning.
At the time of writing these flights are not yet open for booking, although do appear in the airline’s latest flight schedules:
The news comes as Hainan Airlines and Virgin Australia move to forge a new strategic partnership on flights between Australia and China, subject to ACCC approval.
Also read: Flying to secondary cities in China: your options explained
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Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
02 Mar 2015
Total posts 3
So Melbourne will now have more Chinese carriers than SYD when they start flying.
Thai Airways International - Royal Orchid Plus
16 May 2011
Total posts 111
China Southern (CAN)
China Eastern (PVG)
Air China (PEK, PVG, SZX)
Sichuan Airlines (CTU)
Beijing Capital Airlines (TAO, SHE)
Hainan Airlines (XIY)
I guess so! however QF doesnt fly from MEL to Mainland China and SYD has more destinations served than MEL. There's also a Shanghai Airlines A330 flying in for China Eastern daily so I don't know whats the deal with that.
24 Apr 2014
Total posts 269
China Airlines too?
Thai Airways International - Royal Orchid Plus
16 May 2011
Total posts 111
China Airlines is based in Taiwan, so not exactly a mainland chinese carrier of the sorts. But including China Airlines flights to TPE (and CX, QF services to HKG), MEL has quite a large scope in the greater China market!
02 Mar 2013
Total posts 32
Xiamen airlines two weekly to Xiamen as well.
Makes for some interestingn connecting options to Europe and North America.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
26 Feb 2016
Total posts 96
When will Hainan Airlines be included in the VA's credit-and-mileage-earning list?
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on Hainan Airlines plans Melbourne-Xi'an flights