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Adding to the flurry of new route announcements in Sydney this week, Shenzhen Airlines said it will begin flying from Sydney Kingsford Airport in December.

The airline will launch its inaugural four-times-weekly service between the Chinese city of Shenzhen and Sydney starting on December 14.

It adds to the stable of Chinese carriers serving Australian cities, capitalising on Australians’ visa-free travel to China. Flying through China has also emerged as an alternative route for Australians reaching Europe since the US-Israel war on Iran kicked off in February.

Shenzhen’s announcement comes one day after Sydney Airport said EgyptAir would begin flying to Cairo via Singapore from 2027. On Tuesday, Fiji Airways said on Tuesday it will begin serving Western Sydney International from next year.