Virgin Australia (VA, Brisbane International) has confirmed Melbourne Tullamarine as the first city in Australia it will connect with Greater China when it launches flights to Hong Kong International later this year.

Having secured interim approval from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for its proposed alliance with HNA Group unit HNA Aviation, Hong Kong Airlines, and HK Express, Virgin Australia said in a statement its 5x weekly service would commence on July 5 with sales starting March 22. Operations are on-board A330-200 equipment.

"Virgin Australia’s proposed alliance with HNA Aviation and Hong Kong Airlines will enable customers to connect through Hong Kong to thirteen destinations in mainland China," it said. "It will also allow guests from Hainan Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Capital Airlines (China), and Tianjin Airlines to connect onto Virgin Australia’s expansive domestic and trans-Tasman network."

Virgin Australia did, however, note the flights are on sale subject to obtaining final regulatory approval from the ACCC, expected in May/June 2017.