China Southern to Return to Adelaide Airport

‍DALLAS — China Southern Airlines (CZ) has announced the resuming of its Guangzhou—Adelaide route starting on December 12th this year. The three-weekly flight frequency will connect China with the capital and most populous city of South Australia. This flight route returns after more than four years of ceased operations in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Flight CZ663 will depart from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) at 10:15 pm, and arrive in Adelaide (ADL) the next day at 09:55 am. With a scheduled turnaround time of less than two hours, the return flight (CZ664) will depart from the Australian city at 11:30 am to arrive in Guangzhou at 6:05 pm.

The company will use the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner as a key widebody aircraft within its fleet, often used for medium and long-haul destinations. Regarding the route’s flight schedule, it will be scheduled every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.

“We are incredibly excited to welcome China Southern back to reconnect Adelaide with mainland China,” said the Managing Director of Adelaide Airport, Brenton Cox. “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.”

The Impact

The flight route is expected to positively impact South Australia’s International Market, already valued at US$1.3 billion, according to Zoe Bettison, SA’s Tourism Minister. The addition of Adelaide as one of its Australian destinations comes with the airline’s efforts to reinforce its cooperation with the SA state and expand the ‘Canton Route.’ Thanks to its extensive network, it is anticipated that more travelers will come to the Australian city, whether Chinese or international citizens.

Peter Malinauskas, the premier of South Australia, said, “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.” He also stated that the government has been working on bringing back Chinese flights to Adelaide.

Brenton Cox further emphasized the service’s positive impact on travel and trade. He added that Australian exporters can send local products, such as fresh seafood, to one of the biggest Chinese cities, allowing easy and fast access to Australian products in the Chinese market.

Article sources: aerotime.aero, australianaviation.com, travelandtourworld.com.