Sydney's International expands with EgyptAir and Shenzhen Airlines

Sydney Airport is preparing for the arrival of two airlines that will add some fascinating new chapters to Australia's aviation story, with EgyptAir and Shenzhen Airlines both announcing plans to begin services to Sydney. The two announcements, made within a day of each other, will see Sydney's international airline network expand to a record number of carriers and provide new links to two very different but increasingly important markets.

Shenzhen Airlines is scheduled to begin four-times-weekly flights between Shenzhen and Sydney on the 14th of December 2026, while EgyptAir plans to return to Sydney in 2027 with a Cairo–Singapore–Sydney service. The announcements will take Sydney Airport's number of international airlines to 55, with EgyptAir becoming number 54 and Shenzhen Airlines number 55.

Perhaps the more surprising announcement though is the return of EgyptAir.

Egypt's national carrier has announced plans to reconnect Cairo and Sydney via Singapore from 2027, subject to regulatory approvals and the finalisation of the operating schedule. While this will be promoted as a new service, it is actually a return to Australia for the Egyptian flag carrier.

EgyptAir previously operated Cairo–Singapore–Sydney flights but suspended the service in July 2002. The proposed 2027 operation will therefore bring EgyptAir back to Sydney after an absence of around 25 years. The new service is particularly significant because there is currently no direct air connection between Sydney and Cairo.

The route will also be significant for the large Egyptian Australian community in New South Wales, which Sydney Airport says numbers more than 31,000 people.

The planned routing is:
Cairo → Singapore → Sydney

and then the return journey:
Sydney → Singapore → Cairo

While EgyptAir represents a return to Sydney, Shenzhen Airlines will be an entirely new carrier for the airport. The service will operate four times a week using an Airbus A330-300. Sydney Airport says the new operation will add approximately 130,000 seats annually and support an estimated 100,000 passengers each year.

The initial schedule is:
ZH815
Shenzhen (SZX) → Sydney (SYD)
00:20 – 13:40
ZH816
Sydney (SYD) → Shenzhen (SZX)
22:30 – 05:25+1