CZ moves to improve Australian product
China Southern Airlines will operate its latest A330-200 aircraft on Perth and Brisbane routes from April 1 in a move that is set to improve the product for leisure and business class passengers.
The aircraft features flatbed seats for business passengers and seatback TV's in all classes.
"We promised to deliver our best aircraft to Australia and we've done it," regional general manager Australia and New Zealand Henry He said. "Australia remains our key overseas market and to ensure its success we plan to continually update our product and improve our service to offer the best travelling experience on our Canton Route to the World."
The announcement came as the first scheduled China Southern Airlines flight to Cairns arrived in the far north yesterday as it began a seasonal thrice weekly service.
The carrier will operate the flights, from Guangzhou via Brisbane, until February 28.
Brisbane services will increase from four weekly flights to a daily frequency during the same period.
"This is a very proud day for China Southern Airlines as our inaugural scheduled service to Cairns arrives and we open up a new direct link between far north Queensland and southern China," He said.
"We know Chinese tourists want to travel to great Australian destinations like Cairns and are pleased to be able to offer a way to do this during the summer break."
China Southern is on track to hit its stated aim of operating 55 weekly scheduled flights to Australia by the end of 2015, he added.
The arrival of the first Cairns flight came as latest figures showed the airline carried 485,706 passengers to Australia last year, a 57% increase on the 246,000 it carried in 2011.
Meanwhile, Tourism Tropical North Queensland has been preparing for the influx of 20,000 additional Chinese tourists by running workshops for more than 90 Chinese speaking tour guides – double the number expected by officials.
TTNQ chief executive Rob Giaison described the response as "overwhelming".
"This is the first time TTNQ has organised collective tour guide training in the region and we are absolutely delighted at the response," he said. "The guides learnt about the history, climate and features of our region so they can provide an informed commentary to their groups."
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