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China Eastern Airlines will fly daily year-round from Brisbane starting later this year.
The airline, one of China’s “big four”, will switch permanently from five weekly flights to seven from 15 June, creating an annual capacity of almost 100,000 seats per year between Brisbane and Shanghai. It comes as China Southern prepares to fly twice daily year-round from 30 March.
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“As China Eastern Airlines continues to increase its flight frequency on the Brisbane route, economic cooperation and connectivity between China and Australia will become even closer, paving a more efficient and convenient air corridor for business travel, cultural exchanges, and tourism,” said China Eastern’s general manager Brisbane, Cathy Huang.
“Seizing this strategic opportunity, China Eastern Airlines will further strengthen its role as an ‘air bridge’ facilitating two-way exchanges between China and Australia, contributing to the advancement of bilateral economic cooperation, cultural engagement, and family visit travel.”
Chinese passport holders through Brisbane Airport rose by 19 per cent to 315,000 in 2025, and China continues to be the city’s third largest international market.
“Chinese visitors are an important market for Brisbane and they’re also among the highest spenders. Daily flights will give Chinese visitors the confidence and convenience to choose Queensland first and discover our beaches, wildlife, food and lifestyle.
“The boost in capacity will also help deepen business, cultural and trade ties with China, boosting export capacity on the route.
“China Eastern Airlines’ daily flights will also give Queenslanders seamless access to China’s vast domestic network and beyond.”
The Queensland Government has welcomed the expansion of China Southern’s services, with Tourism Minister Andrew Powell saying it will be a boon to the state.
“Queensland is the home of the holiday, and more direct flights mean even more visitors can experience our world‑class destinations,” he said.
“Daily year‑round services from Shanghai will welcome thousands of additional travellers, supporting our tourism operators right across the state.
“Every new flight into Queensland delivers a boost to our economy, strengthening local businesses, creating jobs, and ensuring our visitor industry continues to thrive.”
Brisbane Airport now has 35 international destinations, and is expecting more than 25 million total passengers in 2026.
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