Check in counters might be the oddest of places to hold an anniversary celebration for 45 years of ties between Jiangsu and the state of Victoria in Australia. But not when the first flight to Melbourne from Nanjing in a very long time is about to depart.
The evening of yesterday, 28 June, saw China Eastern Airlines take to the skies for the long flight south-southeastward to the capital of Victoria. That was right after an inaugural flight ceremony for the Nanjing-Melbourne route was held at Nanjing Lukou International Airport.
Among those present were Jiangsu Vice Governor Xia Xinmin, Australian Consul General in Shanghai William Zhang and Victorian Government Special Commissioner to Greater China Shi Wen.
208 passengers boarded the Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft that has a capacity for 232 people, proving there is much demand for the service. Indeed, there today is many a Nanjinger who completed their higher education in Melbourne.
That is in part down to those sister-state relations, which are arguably responsible for Victoria being home to roughly a quarter of all Chinese investment in Australia.
Former Austrian Premier Daniel Andrews visited Nanjing for a ceremony marking the 40th anniversary of ties in 2019. He has said, “Victoria is the gateway for Chinese investment and trade in Australia, and we are proud of the strong and lasting relationship we have built with our largest trading partner”.
Among its many other sister states, Jiangsu is twinned with Ontario in Canada, Free State in South Africa, Essex in the UK, and both California and the State of New York in the USA.
On the flight which resumed last night was a Mr Wu who spoke with Modern Express prior to boarding. He said, “In the past, I had to transfer in Shanghai and arrive there 1 day in advance. Now I can fly directly from Nanjing to Melbourne, which is equivalent to saving a day”.
China Eastern flies a thrice weekly service to and from Melbourne; outbound on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays as MU851, departing 21:15, arriving 10:00; inbound on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays as MU852, departing 12:00, arriving 21:05.
The Nanjinger also maintains a list of all international and regional flights out of Lukou which can be accessed via this link.
