Summary

  • China Airlines adds New Zealand extension to Taipei-Melbourne flight, boosting competition and choice for trans-Tasman travelers.
  • Melbourne Airport to return to pre-pandemic capacity on the route with China Airlines’ new Auckland service.
  • Additional seasonal flight to Auckland increases competition and adds 3,000 weekly seats for the peak summer season.

As the rush to add more capacity between Melbourne and Asia continues unabated, airlines are looking at innovative ways to utilize their aircraft between flights. For example, China Airlines is adding a New Zealand extension to its Taipei to Melbourne flight, giving local travelers another way of crossing the Tasman to Auckland, albeit in widebody comfort.

Another connection from Melbourne Airport

Yesterday, Melbourne Airport announced that it will be back at 100% of its pre-pandemic capacity to Auckland this year, thanks to a new service being introduced by Taiwan’s China Airlines. The additional service is a seasonal extension to China Airlines’ existing flight between Taipei and Melbourne, with an extra return leg to Auckland starting in early December.

Ha Noi, Vietnam - March 17, 2019: China Airlines Airbus A350-900 is taxiing to runway at Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) for its departure back to Taipei, Taiwan (TPE).

Photo: Minh K Tran | Shutterstock 

Melbourne Airport Chief of Aviation Jim Parashos was in Taipei for the announcement. He said the new service would increase competition and help put downward pressure on fares across Tasman, offering extra choice in schedule and product.

“It also gives Kiwis a new option to Asia, with passengers from Auckland able to connect through Melbourne on China Airlines to Taipei and beyond. Additional services and increased competition are vital during a time when we see softening passenger numbers amid cost-of-living challenges and still-high airfares.”

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China Airlines is currently operating four flights weekly from Taiwan’s Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) to Melbourne Airport (MEL). Yesterday, flight CI57 departed Taipei at 23:49 and, after an 8:34-hour flight, landed at Melbourne Airport at 10:23. The aircraft will stay in Melbourne all day and leave this evening at 21:35 to arrive in Taipei at 05:05 on Wednesday.

Making the A350 work

China Airlines intends to take advantage of that opportunity by offering an extra seasonal flight to Auckland Airport (AKL). The continuation of CI57 will depart Melbourne at 13:40 and arrive in Auckland at 19:05, leaving at 21:05 and arriving in Melbourne at 22:55 before continuing to Taipei at 00:25.

A China Southern Airlines Airbus A350-900 On The Ground.

Photo: Airbus

The extra benefit is that local passengers have another option for New Zealand, and with prices high on the trans-Tasman route, the extra competition will be welcomed. The extra leg will add around 3,000 seats weekly in time for the peak summer season and take capacity between Melbourne and Auckland back to pre-COVID levels.

It will also be an opportunity for trans-Tasman passengers to enjoy some widebody comfort on a route that is increasingly being operated with single-aisle aircraft. China Airlines uses the Airbus A350-900 on its current services, with the most recent flight operated by a 2018 A350-900, registration B-18917 and MSN 208 configured with lie-flat premium business, premium economy and full-service economy cabins.

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Melbourne Airport Cargo Success But Domestic Market Going Nowhere

After some record-setting months passenger numbers at Melbourne Airport dipped in April, although the airport’s success with export freight continues.

In May, Melbourne Airport handled 2.73 million passengers, including 824,000 international and 1.9 million domestic travelers. In May 2023, it handled 2.61 million, including 745,000 international and 1.87 million domestic, showing a healthy year-on-year growth in international traffic of 11%. However, domestic travel remains quiet at just 2% growth from 2023 to this year.

Have you traveled with China Airlines? Let us know in the comments.

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