Hong Kong Airlines launches Melbourne flight

HONG KONG AIRLINES AIRBUS A330-343 B-LNP (MSN 1398)

Melbourne has gained a new long-haul international route with Hong Kong Airlines starting services to Melbourne Airport, making it the airport’s 41st airline partner. The first flight celebrated a significant boost in air links between Australia and East Asia, enhancing connections between Victoria and the Greater Bay Area.

The new route links Melbourne (MEL/YMML) with Hong Kong (HKG/VHHH)), a major financial and aviation hub in Asia. Its launch highlights the increasing demand for international travel to Australia, as airlines adapt to greater market access and growing passenger numbers.

The first Hong Kong Airlines service, flight HK013, touched down in Melbourne last Saturday at 11.17 am (local) and received a ceremonial water cannon salute on arrival. The flight symbolized the airline’s formal entry into Australia’s largest 24-hour international gateway and its first operation to the city.

Flights will operate three times weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. 

The inaugural flight was serviced by an Airbus A330-343 - B-LHL (MSN 1686) 

Mass shooting at Sydney's Bondi

This is not aviation related, but I wanted to post this in support of the Jewish Community

Fifteen people have lost their lives, and many others were injured when two gunmen opened fire on a crowd at a Hanukkah event at Bondi Beach on Sunday evening. It has now been reported it was a father and son behind the guns. Naveed, 24, was critically injured and is under police guard in hospital, while his father, Sajid, 50, was shot dead by police at the scene. 

I am writing this with a heavy heart, struggling to find words that can truly capture the sorrow and devastation caused by this horrific act of violence at Bondi in Sydney. The loss of fifteen lives, and the suffering of so many others who remain in critical condition, is heartbreaking beyond measure.

Among the victims were 10-year-old Matilda, a Rabbi and father-of-five Eli Schlanger, 41, a French national Dan Elkayam in his 20s, a Holocaust survivor Alex Kleytman, businessman Reuven Morrison, and former police officer Peter Meagher. 

Our thoughts are with the victims whose lives were taken far too soon, with the families who are now living a nightmare and with those who are fighting to survive. There are no words that can ease this pain, but we wanted to acknowledge it, to say that this loss matters, and that these lives mattered.

This tragedy has left our family feeling shocked, heartbroken, and overwhelmed with grief. It is devastating to witness such senseless violence and to know the lasting trauma it leaves behind—for families, friends, first responders, and the entire community. 

ANA is world's largest operator of the 787

All Nippon Airways stands alone as the world's largest operator of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The Japanese carrier operates 87 Dreamliners across all three variants, a figure no other airline comes close to matching.

Boeing 787-8     33
Boeing 787-9     44
Boeing 787-10   10

ANA's dominance traces back to its role as the 787's launch customer. The airline received the first Dreamliner in 2011 and steadily expanded the fleet as the type proved itself on both domestic and long-haul routes. Today, ANA flies 787-8s on high-frequency Japanese trunk routes, while the larger 787-9 and 787-10 anchor services to Europe, North America, and Southeast Asia.

The aircraft's fuel efficiency and flexibility have allowed ANA to open thinner long-haul routes while maintaining dense schedules from Tokyo Haneda and Narita.

More deliveries are still to come, ensuring the Dreamliner remains central to ANA's network well into the next decade.

 
Other airlines with large fleets of 787s include:
United Airlines with 64
American Airlines with 51
Japan Airlines with 47

China Southern signs codeshare with Virgin Australia

CHINA SOUTHERN AIRBUS A350-941 B-30EA (MSN 398)

China Southern and Virgin Australia have officially signed a new codeshare agreement. This partnership is set to significantly enhance China Southern’s route network coverage in Oceania, offering passengers traveling between China and Australia a more diverse, convenient, and efficient travel experience.

The codeshare cooperation is scheduled to launch in early 2026, allowing passengers to travel on China Southern flights into major Australian gateways including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Darwin. Upon implementation of the codeshare cooperation, travelers can connect efficiently onward via Virgin Australia extensive route network, enjoying convenient access to 17 popular destinations across Australia, New Zealand, and Vanuatu. 

These destinations not only include industrially and commercially developed cities like Newcastle, Townsville, and Mackay but also major vacation hotspots such as the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Cairns, Queenstown, and Port Vila in Vanuatu, catering to the diverse travel preferences of all passengers.

As a major player in boosting air connectivity between China and Australia, China Southern currently operates seven trunk routes with flights from Guangzhou to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, and Darwin, and from Shenzhen to Sydney. During peak seasons, the airline offers up to 77 weekly flights, ensuring stable and efficient air travel and facilitating exchanges between the two countries.

Through its cooperation with Virgin Australia, China Southern will further enhance the density of its route network in Oceania, providing passengers with more convenient connections, a wider range of flight options, and greater flexibility in travel planning. Looking ahead, China Southern will continue to collaborate with global partners to promote route network integration and service upgrades, enabling more people to enjoy exceptional air travel experiences. 

United Airlines adds Adelaide to its network.

UNITED AIRLINES BOEING 787-9 N29981 (MSN 66142)

Starting today, United Airlines launched direct flights between Adelaide and San Francisco, marking the first-ever nonstop route connecting South Australia with the United States. In a historic milestone for South Australia, the new link between the two countries is set to give a major boost to the economy through tourism and trade, as well as business events and conferences.

It also means South Australians will no longer have to endure travelling to Melbourne, Brisbane or Sydney, often catching a bus to an international terminal just to connect to a US flight.

Commencing as a seasonal service UA207 departed San Francisco on the 11th of December, the 15-hour flight will operate three times per week until March – with a possibility to increase in the future as demand grows. The first flight will depart Adelaide for San Francisco on the 13th of December 2025.

The inaugural flight was operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner N29975 (MSN 66134) and after departing San Francisco 30 minutes late at 23.35, it touched down in Adelaide right on schedule at 9:30am. The service will arrive in Adelaide on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays and departing the same day for San Francisco at 2:55pm as UA 208.

UNITED 207 OVERFLYING BRISBANE ON ITS WAY TO ADELAIDE

With this new flight, United will become the only airline with nonstop service to four Australian cities — Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide — offering more routes between the two countries than any other carrier.

San Francisco is a major hub for United Airlines in the US, acting as the airline's primary West Coast and transpacific gateway, and as a major maintenance facility.

Travellers from Adelaide can take advantage of one-stop connections to more than 75 US destinations previously only reachable with two connections from the airline’s San Francisco hub, including New York City, Orlando, Las Vegas, Denver, Chicago, Seattle and Washington, D.C.

The flight also serves as a one-stop connection for travellers from Perth, who are currently not served by a US direct route.

Since 2022, United and Virgin Australia have teamed up, offering codeshare flights and mutual loyalty perks for Velocity Frequent Flyer and United MileagePlus members. 

The US is an important partner for South Australia, especially through the AUKUS agreement, but trade ties run deep, with major exports like wine, beef, fruit, vegetables, and nuts heading across the Pacific.

Air display over Amberley

Yesterday, I headed out to Amberley Air Force Base for the second time this week to catch the RAAF’s display featuring a single F/A-18F Super Hornet display. This display was to support the graduation of the latest Air Force aircrew operational conversion onto the F/A-18F Super Hornet.

I arrived at 9:00 am for what was supposed to be a 10:30 display, but for reasons unknown, it was delayed by an hour. While I waited, I caught a few fast jets and some heavies taking off.

RAAF BOEING EA-18 GROWLER A46-308 (MSN 169155)

RAAF BOEING EA-18 GROWLER A46-306 (MSN 169153)

RAAF LOCKHEED MARTINC-130J A97-440 (MSN 5440)

RAAF AIRBUS A330-203 MRTT A39-002 (MSN 951)

RAAF BOEING F/A-18F SUPER HORNET A44-219 (MSN 167975)

RAAF BOEING F/A-18F SUPER HORNET A44-205 (MSN 167961)

RAAF BOEING F/A-18F SUPER HORNET A44-224 (MSN 167980)

RAAF BOEING F/A-18F SUPER HORNET A44-218 (MSN 167974)

AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE DIAMOND DA40VH-UEG (MSN 40.N390)

RAAF ALENIA C-27J SPARTAN A34-009 (MSN AUS-09)

RAAF BOEING C-17A GLOBEMASTER III A41-206 (MSN AUS-1)

The display aircraft was A44-222 (MSN 167978) a Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet from the Number 1 Squadron

Unfortunately, the clouds came in very quickly and ruined the final flair burst.

More from over home

Here are a few more aircraft that have flown over my home in the past few days.

The first set of photos, taken on Sunday the 7th, features two American 787s. This is because American Airlines launched its inaugural Los Angeles to Brisbane route in partnership with Qantas. American will operate the route three days a week, while Qantas will cover the other four. The second American 787 is flying in from Dallas. The other highlight was Air Canada brought in the Excellence livery 787.

Sunday 7th December

EMIRATES AIRBUS A380-861 A6-EOG (MSN 172)
EK434 ARRIVING FROM DUBAI (DXB) 11 YEARS

QANTAS AIRBUS A330-303 VH-QPB (MSN 558)
QF62 ARRIVING FROM TOKYO (NRT) 22 YEARS 

AMERICAN AIRLINES BOEING 787-9 N841AN (MSN 40657)
AA42 ARRIVING FROM LOS ANGELES (LAX) 6 YEARS

AMERICAN AIRLINES BOEING 787-9 N848AN (MSN 66013)
AA7 ARRIVING FROM DALLAS (DFW) 11 MONTHS

SLING 2 24-8489 (MSN 151)

QANTAS BOEING 737-838 VH-VXH (MSN 33478)
QF500 ARRIVING FROM SYDNEY (SYD) 23 YEARS

SINGAPORE AIRLINES AIRBUS A350-941 9V-SHJ (MSN 328)
SQ235 ARRIVING FROM SINGAPORE (SIN) 6 YEARS

QANTASLINK EMBRAER E190AR VH-UYY (MSN 19000212)
QF1962 ARRIVING FROM NEWCASTLE (NTL) 17 YEARS

AIR NEW ZEALAND BOEING 787-9 ZK-NZK (MSN 43217)
NZ145 ARRIVING FROM AUCKLAND (AKL) 9 YEARS

AIR CANADA BOEING 787-9 C-FSBV (MSN 37182)
AC35 ARRIVING FROM VANCOUVER (YVR) 8 YEARS

FIJI AIRWAYS BOEING 737 MAX 8 DQ-FAB (MSN 64307)
FJ921 ARRIVING FROM NADI (NAN) 7 YEARS

CESSNA SKYLANE RG VH-KFD (MSN R18200414)

Wednesday 10th 

EMIRATES AIRBUS A380-861 A6-EOE (MSN 169)
EK434 ARRIVING FROM DUBAI (DXB) 11 YEARS

SPORTING THE WIMBLEDON LIVERY

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA BOEING 737-MAX 8 VH-8IH (MSN 66650)
VA901 ARRIVING FROM SYDNEY (SYD) 1 YEAR

JETSTAR BOEING 787-8 VH-VKA (MSN 36227)
JQ10 ARRIVING FROM TOKYO (NRT) 12 YEARS

MALAYSIA AIRLINES AIRBUS A330-323 9M-MTM (MSN 1431)
MH135 ARRIVING FROM KUALA LUMPUR (KUL) 12 YEARS

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA BOEING 737-8FE VH-YIG (MSN 38711)
VA1207 ARRIVING FROM CANBERRA (CBR) 13 YEARS

QANTAS BOEING 737-838 VH-VXJ (MSN 33480)
QF502 ARRIVING FROM SYDNEY (SYD) 23 YEARSANW

PAPUA NEW GUINEA DASSULT FALCON 900EX P2-ANW (MSN 218)

JETSTAR AIRBUS A321-231 VH-VWQ (MSN 7384)
JQ560 ARRIVING FROM MELBOURNE (MEL) 9 YEARS

DELTA AIRLINES AIRBUS A350-941 N576DZ (MSN 313)
DL93 ARRIVING FROM LOS ANGELES (LAX) 6YEARS

UNITED AIRLINES BOEING 777-224 N79011 (MSN 29859)
UA96 ARRIVING FROM SAN FRANCISCO (SFO) 26 YEARS

FIJI AIRWAYS BOEING 737-MAX 8 DQ-FAD (MSN 64308)
FJ921 ARRIVING FROM NADI (NAN) 6 YEARS