Adelaide Airport has announced that China Southern Airlines intends to resume services to Guangzhou from the Australian airport on December 12, 2024. The Shanghai-based carrier will operate three times per week direct from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) to Adelaide Airport (ADL), providing a service that will reconnect the Australian state of South Australia with its second-largest international tourism market.
The carrier first launched its direct Guangzhou to Adelaide service in December 2016, offering three flights per week before operations ceased in March 2020 due to the global pandemic.
According to an Adelaide Airport statement, the tourism economic impact of three direct non-stop China Southern flights per week is estimated to generate “more than $69 million annually and create more than 255 full-time equivalent tourism-related jobs for South Australians”.
The new route will be operated by China Southern’s ten-strong fleet of Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners. As one of China’s most prominent airlines, China Southern operates over 900 aircraft in its expansive domestic and international fleet.
As well as serving the point-to-point traffic on the route between the two cities, the flights will also connect the state to Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and North America through China Southern’s international network.
The new schedule will see China Southern flight CZ663 depart from Guangzhou every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday at 22:15 and arrive in Adelaide at 09:55 the following day. Meanwhile, the return flight (CZ664) will depart from Adelaide at 11:30 and arrive in Guangzhou at 18:05.
“We are incredibly excited to welcome China Southern back to reconnect Adelaide with mainland China,” said Brenton Cox, Managing Director of Adelaide Airport. “This service will stimulate travel, generate trade, connect communities, and is an essential link in our network vision that will grow our state’s economy.”
“This is a significant win for our exporters with the widebody Dreamliner able to carry South Australian products such as fresh seafood and produce direct to one of China’s largest cities, and in turn providing easier one-stop access to markets throughout China,” Cox added.
“This is another massive win for our state’s tourism and trade sectors, which will see millions of dollars injected into our state year on year,” said Peter Malinauskas, South Australian Premier.
“Building airline capacity has been a priority for the government from the start, as we work to bring back international visitors in South Australia who are not just here for a holiday, but those ready to invest in businesses, education, and exports. I look forward to this December when we welcome China Southern Airlines, and the thousands of visitors on board, back to South Australia,” he added.
“In 2009, China Southern Airlines initiated its internationalization strategy,” said Zhixing Sun, Regional General Manager China Southern Airlines Australia and New Zealand. “In 2016, we launched the Guangzhou to Adelaide route, utilizing Guangzhou as a passenger hub to provide travel services between China and major cities around the world.
China Southern Airlines is looking forward to strengthening the cooperation with various sectors in South Australia, continuing to expand the ‘Canton Route’, and bringing more travelers from China and around the world to South Australia.” Sun concluded.
According to ch-aviation, Chine Southern’s fleet of 787-8s accommodate 266 passengers in a two-class configuration – 18 in business class and 248 in economy class.