China Southern Airlines increases flights to Auckland

FEB 18, 2015: China Southern Airlines increases flights on Guangzhou to Auckland route. The new schedule will commence on 1 August 2015 and will be serviced by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.This latest announcement from China Southern Airlines is fantastic news for New Zealand inbound and outbound travellers as it will see an increase from 10 flights per week to 14 per week, year-round.

Mike Ma, China Southern Airlines’ general manager New Zealand, says, “We have great confidence in the Auckland-Guangzhou route due to the high level of tourism demand between China and New Zealand.”

“We have seen strong returns on our investment in the New Zealand market and the support we receive from Auckland Airport is certainly contributing to our success here. This increase in services also reinforces our desire to provide the best service possible for our customers,” says Ma.

Norris Carter, Auckland Airport’s general manager aeronautical commercial, highlighted the economic benefit of the decision by China Southern to offer year-round double-daily flights on the Guangzhou to Auckland route.

“We forecast that this latest increase in services will add 95,000 seats on the Auckland to Guangzhou route, contributing $97 million to the New Zealand economy,” says Carter. “China is one of New Zealand’s top visitor markets and China Southern Airlines has recognised the opportunity that this represents. This airline started flying the Guangzhou to Auckland route in April 2011 with three services per week. Within three years it has increased flights on this route to double-daily in the peak season, and now to this latest offering of double-daily year-round. It is truly impressive to see a route grow so quickly,” finished Carter.

The new double-daily year-round service follows on from the recent partnership between Auckland Airport and China Southern Airlines to engage celebrated chef Al Brown to redesign the inflight menu for China Southern’s Auckland to Guangzhou services. The new service also aligns well with Auckland Airport’s ‘Four Seasons, Five Senses’ project, a project jointly funded by Auckland Airport and the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment.