China Southern Airlines launches direct flights between Guangzhou and Adelaide

A major Chinese airline is launching direct flights linking Adelaide to a star destination in China in a major lift for Australian tourists and businesses.

China Southern Airlines, one of the country’s three largest airlines, will link the South Australian capital with Guangzhou province on China’s southern coast from December 12, with three flights a week on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Guangzhou serves as a major connector to the shopping mecca of Shenzhen and the gambling hub of Macao.

The flights will run on Boeing Dreamliner 787-8s and together provide an extra 798 seats to the Middle Kingdom each week.

China Southern ran the route from December 2016, but shelved it in March 2020 in the fallout from the Covid pandemic.

The South Australian government estimates the flights will generate more than $69m annually in state economic activity and create more than 255 tourism-related jobs.

In 2019, there were 66,000 visitors to South Australia from China, generating some $384m to the state’s visitor economy.

In the year ending March 2024, the Chinese tourism market was valued at $145m, up 131 per cent on the year to March 2023.

“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,” South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas said on Sunday.

“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.”

China Southern Airlines Australia and New Zealand regional manager Zhixing Sun said China Southern had identified Guangzhou as a passenger hub to provide travel services between China and major cities around the world.

“China Southern Airlines is looking forward to strengthen the co-operation with various sectors in South Australia, continue to expand the ‘Canton Route’ and bring more travellers from China and around the world to South Australia,” he said.

China is a key destination for South Australian exports and South Australian Trade Minister Joe Szakacs said the flights opened up airfreight opportunities for the state’s agrifoods businesses.

“We also look forward to working with China Southern to get South Australian food and drinks onto the in-flight menu – an opportunity to showcase our state’s world class offerings to passengers before they’ve landed,” he said.

“The record $4.23bn of South Australian exports to China is a great springboard for the growth that direct airfreight will enable.”

The flights will depart Guangzhou at 10.15pm and arrive in Adelaide at 9.55am.

The return flight to China will leave at 11.30am and arrive in China at 6.05pm.