Juneyao Air to fly from Shanghai to Sydney, Melbourne

China’s Juneyao Air will begin direct flights from Shanghai to Sydney and Melbourne this year, adding competition to a route solely flown by China Eastern while also filling a gap left by Qantas’ closing its own Sydney-Shanghai route.

The flights mark Juneyao Air’s debut in Australian skies.

One of China’s largest privately-owned airlines – unlike the heavyweight trio of largely state-backed carriers Air China, China Eastern and China Southern – Juneyao Air has a well-established network across mainland China, throughout Asia and to key European destinations.

Juneyao Air’s Shanghai-Sydney service will begin on 17 December 2024 with four flights per week, with Shanghai-Melbourne following on December 19 at three flights per week.

Shanghai-Melbourne will also move up to daily flights across the January-February peak season – a period  which includes Chinese New Year beginning January 29 – while Sydney Airport says there is also “the potential to increase to daily services over peak months in 2025.”

Juneyao Air’s arrival will see mainland Chinese seat capacity exceed pre-pandemic levels from both Sydney and Melbourne; it will also be the ninth mainland-based carrier to connect Sydney Airport with China.

At the time of writing it’s not yet known which lounges at Sydney or Melbourne will be made available to Juneyao Air’s business class passengers.

Juneyao Air hopes to no doubt take advantage of new arrangements which permit Australians to visit China for up to 15 days without the hassle or expense of obtaining a visa.

The Chinese visa waiver applies to “citizens holding ordinary passports of Australia traveling to China for business, tourism, family visit or transit purposes with the duration not exceeding 15 days.”

Juneyao Air’s 787 business class

Those 11-hour treks to and from Shanghai will be best made in Juneyao Air’s 787 business class, which sports 29 lie-flat seats built on the same Thompson Vantage XL platform as Qantas’ own Business Suites.

Juneyao Air's 787 business class.

This means you’ll enjoy common traits such as a 1-2-1 layout with direct aisle access and generous at-seat storage space and a good setup for working during the flight, especially with the benefit of free satellite WiFi from start to finish.

Juneyao Air's 787 business class.

Economy is your predictable 3-3-3 rows of recliners with a 32” pitch, USB port and a 12” video screen, plus free WiFi.

Juneyao Air's 787 business class.

Juneyao Air’s 787s will also prove eye-catching if you spot them from the airport lounge, with the fleet decked out in as many as three liveries, featuring a Chinese Peony (the national flower of China) and variations on a Chinese red silk ribbon theme.

Juneyao Air's three colourful 787 liveries.

As a Star Alliance Connecting Partner, Juneyao Air passengers can earn points or miles against the frequent flyer programs of ANA, Air China, Air Canada, EVA Air, Singapore Airlines, United Airlines and Shenzhen Airlines.

Travellers can also use their miles or points in those programs to book a business or economy seat on Juneyao Air.

Also read: Here’s your 2024 fast track to Star Alliance Gold status