Perth Airport Introduces China Eastern Flights and Unearths 40,000-Year-Old Artifacts

In anticipation of the upcoming Year of the Dragon festivities, China Eastern is set to initiate seasonal flights between Shanghai and Perth Airport.

Recently, Perth Airport in Western Australia declared the resurgence of China Eastern flights to Shanghai, coinciding with an unrelated revelation of ancient Indigenous artifacts during the construction of its novel runway. Though seemingly disconnected, these events underscore the airport's commitment to environmental stewardship and the promotion of travel and tourism on Australia's west coast.

On Friday, Perth Airport (PER) disclosed the launch of a seasonal nonstop service by China Eastern Airlines between Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) and Perth. This marks the return of China Eastern Airlines to Perth, following a trial service in 2020 that was halted due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new service, operational three times a week from January 20 to February 18, 2023, will employ a 232-seat Airbus A330 aircraft on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. The flight schedule aligns with the 2023 Year of the Dragon Lunar New Year celebrations.

In 2019, pre-pandemic, Western Australia hosted 67,000 Chinese visitors, contributing approximately AU$283 million ($190m) to the local economy. The absence of direct flights has since resulted in a decline to 19,000 visitors, spending AU$78 million ($52M), underscoring the significance of direct flights and Chinese visitation.

Perth Airport Acting CEO Kate Holsgrove expressed delight in welcoming back China Eastern, emphasizing the added seats during the peak holiday period. She highlighted the opportunity for Western Australians to partake in Chinese New Year festivities in Shanghai, emphasizing the potential for tourism and business growth.

The airport's ongoing construction of a new runway has uncovered stone fragments at a depth of approximately two meters, with soil analysis suggesting an age of around 40,000 years. Holsgrove emphasized the airport's commitment to surpassing regulatory requirements by conducting archaeological digs, fostering community confidence and ensuring the sensitive and respectful treatment of any artifacts. The airport plans to collaborate with local Whadjuk families for artifact recovery and explore opportunities for appropriate public display of any uncovered items.

Source: simpleflying.com