New Zealand Lands Asia's Biggest Airline

One of the world’s largest airlines touches down in New Zealand this weekend.

China Southern Airlines, China’s largest airline, will officially launch its direct Auckland-Guangzhou service on Saturday when its first flight arrives in Auckland at 3.20pm.

The new service will initially operate with Airbus A330 aircraft three days a week, arriving and departing Auckland on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

On board Saturday’s flight will be China Southern Airlines dignitaries, including chief executive and president Mr Tan Wan’geng, along with representatives from the Civil Aviation Authority of China, who will be welcomed to New Zealand by Prime Minister John Key. Following the official launch, the group will then travel to Queenstown where they will spend time enjoying some of New Zealand’s finest tourism offerings.

The airline which recently donated $100,000 to the Christchurch earthquake relief fund has already been operating across the ditch in Australia for the past 10 years.

Now it has its sights set on capturing the New Zealand market with a $10 million dollar marketing campaign promoting our country as the ultimate tourist destination.

Mr Tan says he’s excited to now be able to launch the airline in New Zealand which has a proud tourism heritage.

“New Zealand is an important market for both trade and tourism and this partnership will help to serve the growing demand for services between the two countries,” says Mr Tan.

“The launch of these new routes is an important strategic step for China Southern Airlines in Oceania, and we are looking forward to continuing to grow our ties both with New Zealand and its neighbours in Australia.”

China Southern Airlines New Zealand General Manager Henry Dai says the arrival of Saturday’s first flight will mark an important milestone for the airline.

“Since announcing last year we would be starting these services we have been working hard to ensure our customers will receive the same premium service that China Southern Airlines is renowned for.

“I am looking forward to helping grow the airline’s presence in New Zealand and increasing the number of services we offer over the coming months,” says Mr Dai.

Once passengers leave Auckland, their Kiwi experience won’t be entirely over – a selection of New Zealand food and wine produced exclusively for the airline by Pacific Flight Catering will be served on the Auckland-Guangzhou route.

China Southern Airlines operates a fleet of 420 aircraft, servicing 172 cities in 30 countries and regions around the world. In 2010 the airline carried 76.5 million passengers around the globe.

For more information about China Southern Airlines and its services visit www.csair.com/en.