China Southern reports Qantas codeshare boost

China Southern reports Qantas codeshare boost
By admin


China Southern Airlines says its codeshare agreement with Qantas has boosted the number of Chinese tourists travelling to Australia and it is working to expand the partnership between the carriers.

The airline's senior vice president, marketing, Zhou Junbao, says passenger numbers had increased in the six months since the codeshare agreement was signed.

"We have already witnessed some very positive results. For instance, we have seen an increase in passengers numbers on all our operations," Mr Zhou told reporters in Guangzhou.

China Southern currently offers 31 weekly flights to Australia, while the codeshare agreement covers 10 domestic routes, such as Sydney to Cairns, and Mr Zhou says the airline plans to increase its exposure to Australia further.

It is working to double the number of domestic routes it offers through Qantas and plans to increase its international capacity.

"The Australian market is of great strategic significance to China Southern Airlines and it is also a very important component of our Canton route," he said.

"So, in the future, we will definitely consider further increasing the number of flights to Australia."

However, Mr Zhou said, the airline planned to buy a stake in Qantas as part of its growing relationship with the airline.

Qantas's chief domestic rival, Virgin, counts international carries Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines and Etihad as its three major shareholders. Qantas argues that has distorted the local market.

Mr Zhou said China Southern carried 220,000 Chinese passengers to Australia in 2013 and expects that number to continue to increase over the next few years.

Latest News

  • Destinations
  • News

APT Launches 2025 Asia Adventures

APT has launched its Asia Adventures for 2025, including new luxury holidays in India, Sri Lanka and Japan. Five new tours lead guests to the highlights of India, including a seven-night cruise along the rarely travelled Lower Ganges aboard the Ganges Voyager. Further south, Sri Lanka’s greatest destinations are revealed on a new 15-day Land […]

  • Cruise
  • Luxury
  • News

Seabourn announces Western Kimberley Traditional Owners as Godparents of Seabourn Pursuit

Seabourn has named Western Kimberley Traditional Owners, the Wunambal Gaambera, as Godparents of the ultra-luxury purpose-built Seabourn Pursuit. It is the first cruise line to appoint Traditional Owners as godparents of a ship. Seabourn Pursuit embarks on its inaugural season in the Kimberley region this June. The naming ceremony will take place on Seabourn Pursuit’s […]

  • Luxury

Malolo Island Resort opens brand new Spa

Fiji’s Malolo Island has added another string to its bow – opening its $1.3 million day spa on Thursday, 18th April 2024. (Lead Image: matriarch Rosie Whitton with spa staff) Located at the edge of the resort’s luscious patch of tropical rainforest, the new “Leilani’s Spa” adds another level of elevated experiences to Malolo’s already […]