Shenzhen Airlines to make London flights daily, boost Melbourne service
Shenzhen Airlines will increase flights from Shenzhen to London and Melbourne this fall, including daily service to the British capital, as the carrier expands its international network with two new Southeast Asian routes.
A Shenzhen Airlines Airbus A350 taxis at Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport. The carrier will deploy A350 aircraft on selected Shenzhen-London flights from Aug. 15 as it expands its international services. (Photo: WeChat account "深圳发布")
From Sept. 22, the Shenzhen-London route will increase from five flights a week to daily service, giving travelers more flexibility for business, tourism and family visits.
Airbus A350 wide-body aircraft will begin operating selected London services from Aug. 15. Initially, A350s are scheduled on flights departing Shenzhen on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. After the route becomes daily, the aircraft is planned for Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday services.
Shenzhen Airlines said the London route will become the only intercontinental service from Shenzhen operating nonstop every day once the frequency increase takes effect.
The carrier will also add more flights to Melbourne. From Oct. 25, the Shenzhen-Melbourne route will operate five times a week, with services on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Alongside the long-haul expansion, Shenzhen Airlines is adding two Southeast Asian destinations to its network.
Direct flights between Shenzhen and Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei, will begin Sept. 29 and operate four times a week. The airline said the new service will fill a gap in direct air connectivity between Shenzhen and Brunei.
Daily flights between Shenzhen and Jakarta will begin Oct. 19, strengthening links between southern China and Indonesia's capital.
A Malaysia Airlines Boeing 737 prepares for departure at Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport, following the launch of the airline's new daily direct passenger service between Shenzhen and Kuala Lumpur. (Photo: Courtesy of Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport)
Malaysia Airlines opens Shenzhen-Kuala Lumpur air route
Malaysia Airlines officially launched its direct passenger service between Shenzhen and Kuala Lumpur on July 2, marking the first international route inaugurated at Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport for the 2026 summer travel season.
The newly launched air route operates daily, with inbound flight MH522 departing from the Malaysian capital at 9:05 p.m. local time and arriving in Shenzhen at 1:15 a.m. the following day. The outbound flight, MH523, leaves Shenzhen at 2:45 a.m. and lands in Kuala Lumpur at 6:45 a.m. local time.
As a major aviation gateway in Southeast Asia, Kuala Lumpur is a top destination for both business and leisure travelers from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The new service provides travelers with seamless connections through Kuala Lumpur to other Malaysian cities, as well as destinations across Southeast Asia and Oceania.
Currently, the Shenzhen airport connects to 27 destinations across nine Southeast Asian countries, offering more than 200 outbound flights per week. The airport has increased frequencies on routes to cities such as Vientiane, Kuala Lumpur, and Bangkok this year, leading to steady growth in passenger traffic across the region.
Passengers queue at check-in counters in the departure hall of Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport. Several airlines have shortened check-in deadlines for domestic flights departing from Shenzhen to reduce passengers' waiting time. (Photos: WeChat account "幸福福田")
Shenzhen Airport shortens domestic flight check-in deadlines as summer travel takes off
Travelers departing from Shenzhen this summer may be able to spend less time waiting at the airport, as several airlines have shortened domestic flight check-in deadlines, allowing passengers to complete travel formalities closer to departure.
The move comes as China's summer travel season gets underway and domestic air travel demand surges.
A notice at Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport displays updated check-in cutoff times for Shenzhen Airlines domestic flights.
China Southern rolls out 15-minute check-in
China Southern Airlines (CSA) has introduced a "15-minute check-in" service for all domestic flights departing from Shenzhen, effective July 8.
Under the new policy, passengers traveling without checked baggage can complete check-in, clear security and board their flight up to 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time, when boarding gates close.
Previously, most Chinese airlines stopped check-in 30 to 40 minutes before departure.
For passengers with checked baggage, the baggage drop deadline has been shortened to 30 minutes before departure, giving travelers more flexibility while allowing sufficient time for baggage handling.
China Southern had previously tested the service on its Shenzhen-Beijing Daxing route before extending it to all domestic departures from Shenzhen.
The airline advises passengers requiring special assistance—including wheelchair users, travelers with reduced mobility, first-time flyers, unaccompanied minors, pregnant passengers and those traveling with infants or young children—to continue arriving at the airport well in advance.
Information screens at Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport promote the airport's "Fly Anytime" service on the Shenzhen-Beijing route, allowing eligible passengers to switch to another same-day flight free of charge.
More airlines shorten check-in deadlines
China Southern is not the only airline offering later check-in.
Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport has also worked with Air China, Shenzhen Airlines, Shandong Airlines and Kunming Airlines to reduce check-in cutoff times for domestic departures.
For these airlines, passengers with checked baggage can check in until 35 minutes before departure, while those traveling with carry-on luggage only have until 30 minutes before departure.
On two high-frequency shuttle routes—Shenzhen-Beijing Capital and Shenzhen-Shanghai Hongqiao—Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport and Shenzhen Airlines are piloting even later check-in deadlines. Passengers without checked baggage can check in as late as 20 minutes before departure, while those checking baggage have until 30 minutes before departure.
The trial is expected to expand to more routes in the future.
Meanwhile, Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport and Shenzhen Airlines have also introduced a "Fly Anytime" service on the Shenzhen–Beijing Capital route. Eligible passengers holding tickets for Shenzhen Airlines- or Air China-operated flights purchased at 65% of the full fare or higher can change free of charge to another flight on the same route and in the same cabin class on the day of travel, subject to seat availability.
Passengers flying with airlines that have not adopted the new policies should note that the domestic check-in cutoff at Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport remains 38 minutes before departure.
Shenzhen Airlines' first Airbus A350 is parked on the apron at Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport before entering commercial service yesterday. Photos courtesy of Shenzhen Airlines
Shenzhen Airlines introduces first Airbus A350
Shenzhen Airlines on June 30 introduced its first Airbus A350 widebody aircraft, marking a milestone in the carrier's fleet expansion as it prepares to strengthen its long-haul international network.
Named Kunpeng, the aircraft features a special livery inspired by the mythical giant bird from Chinese folklore, a reference to Shenzhen's nickname, Pengcheng, or "City of the Roc." The design also incorporates elements of Lingnan cultural heritage, including traditional fish lanterns from Shatoujiao, the kylin dance and the ao fish motif, alongside images of robots and drones representing Shenzhen's technology sector.
The A350 entered commercial service on June 30, operating Shenzhen–Beijing Capital and Shenzhen–Shanghai Hongqiao routes on its inaugural day.
Shenzhen Airlines said the aircraft's long-range capability will enable the carrier to operate long-haul intercontinental routes more efficiently and support the expansion of its international network to meet growing demand for premium air travel.
Sources: Multiple reports by Shenzhen Daily
