Canberra Airport inks MOU with Nanjing Airport operator

By Andrew Curran.

Canberra Airport (CBR) is eyeing direct flights to China after signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Eastern Airports Group, which manages airports in Jiangsu province, including Nanjing's Lukou International Airport (NKG).

The MOU was signed at Canberra Airport on August 18, 2026, and, according to the airport, "provides a practical framework for exploring future aviation links".

Officials from the Chinese Embassy in Australia also attended the signing. Eastern Airports Group is a state-owned entity.

"This agreement helps lay the groundwork for direct flights between Canberra and Nanjing," said Australian Capital Territory Chief Minister Andrew Barr.

China Eastern Airlines currently flies from Nanjing Airport to both Sydney (SYD) and Melbourne (MEL) Airports. It is the only airline flying between the Chinese city of 9.6 million people and Australia.

Shenzhen Airlines and Juneyao Airlines, both of which also fly to Australia from other airports in China, have substantial bases at Nanjing.

"We look forward to working together on direct flight opportunities, route network links and tourism market promotion," said Eastern Airports Group Vice-President Fan Hao.

Another chance to make international flights work at Canberra?

Capital Airport Group, the Snow family-controlled entity behind Canberra Airport, has struggled for years to build an ongoing network of international flights.

Fiji Airways is currently the only international airline serving the airport, with twice-weekly B737-8 round-trips to Nadi (NAN). Virgin Australia also recently began thrice weekly flights between Canberra and Denpasar (DPS),.

In early December, Qatar Airways will resume its B777-300ER-operated tag flights to Canberra from Melbourne as part of a Doha – Melbourne – Canberra – Melbourne – Doha rotation.

But Singapore Airlines axed its Canberra flights in 2020 and hasn't returned, while Batik Air flights between Canberra and Denpasar (DPS) lasted just four months in 2024.

Instead, Canberra Airport primarily operates as a reasonably busy domestic airport, serving government and corporate demand to and from Australia's national capital.

Sydney Airport, just three hours up the motorway from Canberra Airport, has a wide range of international flight options. That proximity is one of the reasons why international flights to Canberra have failed to gain traction.

However, Canberra Airport CEO Stephen Byron said international connections to and from the airport were important.

"They are about connecting Canberra to the world and bringing the world to Canberra," he said. "This MOU gives us a practical way to work together."

Canberra is only one of two Australian capital city airports not connected to China

Australian Government data covering the 12 months to March 31, 2026, reveals that Canberra Airport handled 2,796,512 passengers over the period, but just 35,782 of those (or 1.3%) were travelling on international flights.

Canberra and Hobart (HBA) remain Australia's only international airports not connected to China, which is Australia's second-largest source of visitor arrivals, surpassing one million people in calendar 2025.

In addition to aviation, Byron said the MOU offered the two parties the opportunity to collaborate across tourism, trade, education and cultural initiatives.

Photo: Canberra Airport.
Contact the writer: andrew@aerosouthpacific.com