China Southern upgrades Sydney route

China Southern upgrades Sydney route
By admin


China Southern Airlines has revealed a major overhaul of its Australian operations, with one of its five Airbus A380s to be deployed on the Guangzhou-Sydney route.

The deployment, scheduled from October 27, represents the second international route for the airline's superjumbos and forms part of a "major expansion strategy" in the Australian market, according to executive vice president Chen Gang.

"Australia remains out most important overseas market and the test bed for our global strategy," he said at the Australian Tourism Exchange in Sydney at the weekend.

The daily A380 service will replace the current CZ325/326 A330-300 service, with a Sydney Airport report estimating it will generate 5000 jobs and contribute about $390 million to the Australian economy over a full year.

In addition, both Melbourne and Sydney will receive the airline's latest A330-300 and A330-200 aircraft by October. The aircraft, which were introduced to the Brisbane and Perth routes earlier this month, feature flatbeds upfront and personal TVs throughout.

Chen also highlighted a new 72-hour visa-free stay policy for Australians travelling via Guangzhou on its "Canton Route" from mid-year as an important development, along with the roll out of 400 English-speaking cabin crew across its network in a bid to improve inflight service.

Meanwhile, Tourism Australia managing director Andrew McEvoy underlined the importance of China Southern as an aviation partner.

"Last year, China Southern carried more than one in five of all Chinese visitors to Australia, and the introduction of the A380 is the most powerful indication yet of the airline's future ambitions and confidence in the Australian market," he said. 

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