18 February 2015
China Southern Airlines (CZ) strengthens its commitment to growing the New Zealand market with the announcement of year-round double-daily flights on the Guangzhou to Auckland route.
Following on from the success of its summer peak season double-daily service on the Canton route, China Southern will be extending the current schedule to a year-round double-daily service. 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 Mr 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 Mr 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 Mr 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.
“The ‘Four Seasons, Five Senses’ project aims to drive tourism growth across the seasons, throughout the year,” says Mr Carter. “This will be done by raising awareness within China of the unique and iconic activities that New Zealand has to offer during autumn, winter and spring. These activities will engage the five senses of travelers with a focus on high quality food, wine, cultural and adventure experiences.”
As the third largest airline in the world and the largest in Asia, China Southern has been expanded at a rapid rate from 10 million passengers in 1994 to 101 million in 2014.
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For further information from Auckland Airport, please contact:
Kate Thompson
+27 213 385 446