China Southern Adds New Routes to Sydney, Melbourne

China Southern Airlines is expanding its Australian network with two new routes from Beijing Daxing Airport (PKX), enhancing connectivity between China and Australia. Starting December 13, 2024, the airline will launch flights from Beijing to Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD), operating four times weekly with Airbus A330-300 aircraft. This marks China Southern’s first direct flight to Australia from PKX, offering travelers a new convenient option for visiting one of Australia’s most popular destinations.

The following day, on December 14, 2024, China Southern will commence service between PKX and Melbourne Airport (MEL), with three weekly flights using the same Airbus A330-300 fleet. These flights feature 28 business-class seats and 258 economy-class seats, ensuring comfort and accessibility for all passengers.

Greg Botham, Sydney Airport’s Group Executive of Aviation Growth and Strategy, highlighted the significance of these new routes, stating, “These flights will add much-needed capacity and support the ongoing recovery of the travel market, which has rebounded to nearly 90% in early 2024 and peaked at 97% in July.”

China Southern currently operates four nonstop routes between China and Australia, including flights to Sydney from Guangzhou and Shenzhen, as well as to Brisbane and Melbourne from Guangzhou. According to OAG Schedules Analyser, the airline offers nearly 18,800 two-way seats on its China-Australia routes, capturing 28% market share in this sector, trailing behind China Eastern Airlines at 31%.

The addition of these new flights comes as Air China plans to increase its Beijing to Sydney service from four times weekly to daily starting October 28, 2024. Additionally, China Southern will resume its Guangzhou-Adelaide service with three weekly flights from December 12, 2024, marking its return since before the pandemic.

These strategic expansions by China Southern Airlines demonstrate the carrier’s commitment to strengthening its presence in the Australian market, providing enhanced travel options and supporting the recovery of international air travel.China Southern’s expansion from PKX comes as the carrier plans to resume its Guangzhou-Adelaide service on December 12, for the first time since before the pandemic.

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