Shanghai is becoming more accessible for New Zealanders as increasing numbers of Chinese visitors flock to our shores.

China Eastern Airlines is to operate four flights from Auckland every week, year-round, from September.

Auckland Airport's Norris Carter says the move comes on the back of a popular seasonal service which ran over summer.

He says there has been enormous growth in the number of Chinese tourists travelling here.

"Last year we had about 261,000, which was 14 percent growth over the year before.

There is more capacity and also offers onward connections onto China Eastern's network onto China and beyond."

China Eastern Airlines' expansion will add 100,000 seats to the Shanghai route.

The new service will benefit our economy to the tune of around $122 million.

Norris Carter says Air China, which Air New Zealand is in partnership with, plans to introduce a Beijing flight - worth around $200 million in tourist spend.