• China Southern Airlines’ three weekly Shenzhen-Sydney service launched today
• New direct route will boost tourism and trade
• Sydney Airport is the gateway to Australia for Chinese passengers

Sydney Airport today welcomed a new route as China Southern Airlines launched its three weekly direct Shenzhen-Sydney service ahead of Lunar New Year.

“We’re delighted to welcome this new Shenzhen-Sydney service in time for the peak Lunar New Year period,” Sydney Airport Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Kerrie Mather said.

“The new China Southern Airlines service will deliver tourism benefits to Sydney and boost trade by providing a direct route to the major financial, technology and manufacturing centre of Shenzhen.

“Sydney Airport is the gateway to Australia for Chinese passengers and has the most Chinese long haul routes of any airport in the world, with six mainland Chinese airlines providing direct services to nine mainland Chinese cities.

“Chinese passengers are our fastest growing and largest inbound visitor market based on residency, so we’ve implemented initiatives to provide them with a positive visitor experience, including additional Mandarin speaking Red Ambassadors, a Chinese social media channel and Lunar New Year celebrations at the airport.”

China Southern Airlines is a SkyTeam Alliance member and operates China’s largest airline fleet.

“Today is a very important day for China Southern Airlines and we are delighted to welcome the new Shenzhen service to Sydney. China Southern Airlines has great confidence in the Australian market and today’s inaugural flight clearly demonstrates our ongoing commitment as we open further gateways and services to China,” China Southern Managing Director Australia and New Zealand Louis Lu said.

“Shenzhen is an important city for trade between Australia and China, and the awareness of China Southern Airlines’ extensive route network and quality service offering is becoming stronger amongst Australian business and leisure travellers. We are committed to providing service that is of high quality and exceptional hospitality, but also provides an affordable way to travel, not just to Guangzhou and now Shenzhen, but onwards to 195 destinations in 40 different countries.”

NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events Stuart Ayres said in the year ended September 2015, NSW welcomed more than 536,000 Chinese visitors who for the first time spent more than $2.1 billion in NSW.

“We are delighted to welcome the new China Southern Shenzhen-Sydney route today and the opportunity to further showcase our beautiful city, award-winning restaurants and surrounding regions to our largest inbound international tourism market,” Mr Ayres said.

“This new service will continue to highlight NSW as Australia’s premier tourism and events State and our relationship with China Southern. We look forward to working with China Southern to attract even more Chinese visitors to Sydney and Regional NSW.”

Tourism Australia Managing Director John O’Sullivan said the organisation enjoyed a long standing relationship with China Southern Airlines, and was delighted to see its airline partner continue its Australian expansion plans.

“The one million visitor arrival milestone achieved earlier this month is further evidence, if it was really needed, of the rise and rise of the China inbound tourism market,” Mr O’Sullivan said.

“Whilst Chinese arrivals from Australia’s fastest growing and most valuable inbound tourism market continue to grow at double digit rates, it’s critically important that aviation capacity and access keep pace with demand. China Southern’s continued expansion of their Australian operations, with their new Shenzhen-Sydney service, is great news for Sydney and for Australian tourism.”

Mr O’Sullivan said that Tourism Australia remained committed to working with China Southern Airlines to maintain strong visitor growth for Australia through ongoing initiatives including joint marketing campaigns, travel trade education and training for frontline travel consultants.

Sydney Airport expects to welcome more than 430,000 Chinese passport holders during the peak January to March Lunar New Year period, when the airport will receive 74 flights per week from mainland China and 121 flights per week from greater China including Hong Kong and Taiwan.

China Southern Airlines’ new Shenzhen-Sydney is serviced by the A330-300 aircraft with 284 seats across First Class, Business Class and Economy Class.

The service is currently operating on Saturday, Monday and Thursday. Timetables have been submitted for the schedule to continue year-round, pending government approval.

Flight schedule

Saturday: Departs Sydney at 1000 and arrives in Shenzhen at 1615

Monday and Thursday: Departs Sydney at 0930 and arrives in Shenzhen at 1545