Melbourne to Nanjing (MEL–NKG) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

MEL Airport Page →
5,080 mi airlines 3/wk
On-time Some delays Frequent delays
Flight Schedule 2 flights Verified 4h ago
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  Flight Airline AC Dep Arr Dur OTP Sched  
MU852
MU China Eastern
332
1:00 PM
AEDT TT2
9:10 PM
CST
11h 10m
M T W T F S S
Prices
MU851
MU China Eastern
332
8:55 PM
CST TT2
11:00 AM+1
AEDT
11h 5m
M T W T F S S
Prices

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No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.

1-STOP
2-STOP Loading...
Melbourne to Nanjing
1 carrier, 3 flights/week nonstop.
1 Airlines 3 Flights/wk 5,080 mi 11h 10m nonstop -3h behind 19 1-stop hubs

MEL–NKG is served by 1 airline with nonstop service. China Eastern Airlines leads the route. The flight covers 5,080 miles in approximately 11h 10m. Beyond nonstop, 19 hubs offer 1-stop connections.

Airline Landscape

All carriers operating nonstop MEL–NKG service, compared side by side.
Airline Freq/wk Aircraft Duration Dep OTP Alliance Codeshares
MU China Eastern Airlines 3 332 11h10 SkyTeam
Aircraft on this route
332 Airbus A330-200 – MU
Alliance coverage
SkyTeam: MU (3 flights/wk, 100%)
OTP based on airport-level delay snapshots. Duration ranges reflect seasonal/directional variation.

Weekly Schedule Pattern

Nonstop flight frequency by day of week, MEL to NKG direction.
Mon
1
flight
Tue
0
flights
Wed
0
flights
Thu
1
flight
Fri
0
flights
Sat
1
flight
Sun
0
flights
Departure time distribution
12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM12 AM
Morning departures
Afternoon/evening departures
1
Nonstop flights
3
Outbound / wk
3
Return / wk

Connection Landscape

Beyond nonstop. 1-stop and 2-stop options for MEL to NKG.
1-STOP
One-Stop Connections
19
Hubs
~15h
Fastest
~31h
Longest
Verified with published schedule alignment and minimum connection time.
2-STOP
Two-Stop Connections
1,037
Candidates
Two-stop connections loaded in the connections tab above.
Connections computed from published schedules with minimum connection time verification. Use the interactive explorer above the fold to filter by airline, tier, and layover time.

Travel Essentials

Practical planning for this route.
Time Difference
-3h
Nanjing is 3 hours behind Melbourne.
MEL: AEDT · NKG: CST

When it's 6:00 PM in Melbourne, it's 3:00 PM in Nanjing.
Distance & Flight Time
5,080 mi / 8,175 km
Nonstop flight time is approximately 11h 10m.
Getting to MEL

No train connection exists; the Melbourne Airport Rail Link was under development as of 2026 but not yet open. The SkyBus operates 24/7 between Southern Cross Station (Spencer St) and MEL in 30–40 minutes (AUD $22–24 one-way). Stops at select CBD hotels on some services.Ride-shares (Uber) from the CBD cost AUD $35–55 and take 25–40 minutes. Taxis run AUD $55–75 (higher at nights and weekends). Parking from AUD $20/day in economy lots. The Tullamarine Freeway is the only practical road route; check traffic before departing.

Getting from NKG

The S9 metro line connects Lukou directly to Nanjing South Railway Station in 30 minutes (¥29). Trains depart every 20–30 minutes, making it the straightforward connection for onward high-speed rail.

Taxis to the city center cost ¥80–120 and take 40–60 minutes. Metered cabs are widely available at the designated rank outside arrivals. Airport buses serve major hotels and railway stations for ¥20–25.

Nanjing Climate

Humid subtropical climate with four distinct seasons. Summers (June–August) are hot and humid, regularly reaching 35–38°C with frequent thunderstorms that can cause delays. Winters (December–February) are cold (−3–7°C) with occasional freezing rain and light snow. Ice events are the main disruption risk.

Spring and autumn (March–May, September–November) are the most comfortable periods with mild temperatures of 15–25°C. Typhoon remnants occasionally bring heavy rain in late summer and early autumn.

MEL–NKG Quick Facts

Key statistics for the Melbourne to Nanjing route.
Route details
Distance5,080 mi / 8,175 km
Flight time11h 10m
Time difference-3 hours
Airlines (nonstop)1
Weekly flights3 out / 3 return
1-stop connections19 hubs
Origin: MEL
IATA / ICAOMEL / YMML
TimezoneAustralia/Melbourne
Passengers/yr35.0M
Elevation434 ft / 132 m
Destination: NKG
IATA / ICAONKG / ZSNJ
TimezoneAsia/Shanghai
Passengers/yr31.0M
Elevation49 ft / 15 m

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about MEL to NKG flights.
Nonstop flights from Melbourne Airport to Nanjing Lukou International Airport take approximately 11h 10m. The route covers 5,080 miles.
1 airline operates nonstop service: China Eastern Airlines.
There are approximately 3 nonstop flights per week from MEL to NKG. The return direction has about 3 weekly flights.
Yes, 1-stop connections are available through HKT, NRT, HAK, ICN, PVG, SZX, TAO, TFU, PEK, TPE, CAN, SGN, HKG, KUL, SYD, BKK, SIN, LAX and XMN. These options provide additional schedule flexibility.
Nanjing is 3 hours behind Melbourne.
Yes, return flights from NKG to MEL are available. Use the direction toggle at the top to view the return schedule.
Click the 'Search Flights' button to check availability and prices on Google Flights. You can also compare airlines and schedules on this page to find the best option.
Route data is updated regularly from official airline schedules. On-time performance data comes from recent airport delay snapshots.

Flights from MEL to NKG

Melbourne Airport (MEL) and Nanjing Lukou International Airport (NKG) are connected by nonstop service from China Eastern Airlines. With 3 weekly departures, this is a regularly served route.

MEL to NKG Flight Duration and Schedule

Nonstop flight time from MEL to NKG ranges from 11 hours 10 minutes. The route covers a distance of 5,080 miles (8,175 km). There are approximately 3 weekly flights outbound and 3 return, totaling 6 flights per week in both directions.

Connecting Options and Alternatives

19 one-stop connections are available, with the fastest taking approximately 15 hours via HKT. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs.