AUSTRALIA/CHINA. Sydney Airport has welcomed back Sichuan Airlines, with flight 3U3883 from Chengdu (capital city of Sichuan province) touching down this afternoon.
The airline’s inaugural flight into the airport was in December 2013. Its services were paused in early February 2020 when China implemented COVID-19 travel restrictions.
Sichuan Airlines is the last of eight Chinese carriers to resume services to Sydney Airport since China began lifting travel restrictions in January.
Carriers now operating direct services from Sydney to Mainland China include Air China, Beijing Capital Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Qantas, Sichuan Airlines, Tianjin Airlines and Xiamen Airlines.
At the start of the year, there were only three Chinese airlines flying a total of four return services between Sydney Airport and Mainland China.
From November, eight Chinese airlines and Qantas will offer a total of 85 return services a week between the two destinations. Sichuan Airlines is the only carrier offering direct flights between Sydney and Chengdu.
The city of Chengdu is a strategic economic and financial hub in the region, as well as a popular tourist destination. The airline is currently running three weekly return services, increasing to five per week from 19 November.
Sydney Airport CEO Geoff Culbert said: “A decade ago Sichuan Airlines first flew into Sydney Airport, and to welcome them back again after an almost four-year break due to the pandemic marks an important milestone in our recovery journey.
“The return of Sichuan Airlines comes at a time when capacity to China is nearing pre-COVID levels – something that seemed impossible at the start of the year.
“We started the year with very few flights from China, but by November we’ll be 86% recovered, with more flights coming online in the coming months.
“The pace at which this market has returned has exceeded our expectations. It will play a crucial role in supporting the recovery of tourism, business and student travel and the broader New South Wales economy.”
Sichuan Airlines General Manager of Commercial Committee Deyun Wu noted: “We are so excited to open the Chengdu to Sydney route and proud to welcome Australians to the home of the giant panda.
“Chengdu is a city that offers visitors distinctive cultural experiences and natural wonders – from sacred mountains and bamboo forests to spicy Sichuan cuisine and tranquil teahouses.” ✈
