MEDIA RELEASE
AUSTRALIAN CONSULATE-GENERAL, CHENGDU
20 December 2013
Consul-General welcomes launch of direct flights between Chongqing and Sydney
Links between Australia and China’s rapidly growing south-west region are set to get a further boost with Sichuan Airlines’ introduction of a new service between Chongqing and Sydney.
Australia’s Consul-General in Chengdu, Ms Nancy Gordon, welcomed the new route at the launch of the inaugural flight at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport.
“The new route from Chongqing to Sydney will give the people of south-west China direct access to one of Australia’s biggest and exciting cosmopolitan cities.
“Latest data shows that over one million trips were made between China and Australia in 2012-13, with over 388 000 visits to China.
“The new route, coupled with Chongqing’s new 72-hour transit visa-free policy for international tourists, will see a significant rise in travel between Australia and south-west China.”
Sichuan Airlines plans to fly the route two times a week, and has added free domestic connecting flights to Chongqing for passengers wanting to fly from another location.
Sydney is the Sichuan Airlines’ second Australian destination, adding to the Chengdu to Melbourne direct flight which was launched in February earlier this year.
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