CHINA SOUTHERN AIRLINES: Return to Adelaide / Guangzhou route
China Southern Airlines has returned to flying its Adelaide to Guangzhou route three times a week as a seasonal route until 1 March 2025. Discussions are underway to extend the arrangement beyond that date.
This route commenced in 2016 but was abandoned during the height of the pandemic in 2020.
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The Flights on the Adelaide to Guangzhou route
In addition to linking Adelaide to China, China Southern Airways offers flights to Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and the Middle East out of its Guangzhou hub.
- CZ664 departs Adelaide 11:30, arrives Guangshou 18:05 (Thurs, Sat and Mon)
- CZ663 departs Guangzhou 22:15, arrives Adelaide 09:55 +1day. (Wed, Fri and Sun)
According to Mr Zhixing Sun, Regional General Manager of China Southern Airlines Australia and New Zealand, this will give Adelaidians access to the ‘Canton Route’ between China and Europe.
The aircraft servicing the route are Boeing 787-8s. These aircraft have 18 Business Class seats that recline to fully flat (2-2-2) and 248 Economy seats (3-3-3) with a 32- to 33-inch pitch.
Trade on the Guangzhou route
South Australia has a substantial trading relationship with China. It is SA’s largest trading partner, and the state’s trade minister has his eyes on the 45 tonnes of cargo space that the flights will open up each week:
‘Our exports to China have never been higher, worth $4.43 billion to the state’s economy over the past year, and this direct route provides another opportunity for our exporters to enter market cheaper, quicker and more efficiently.’
Joe Szakacs, South Australian Trade and Investment Minister
2PAXfly Takeout
Adelaide has a small international footprint, with only 10 airlines flying overseas. These include Air New Zealand, Batic Air, China Southern, Emirates, Jetstar, Malaysia, Qatar, Fiji Airways, Singapore Airlines and VietJet. Some only on a seasonal basis.
China Southern will be their only direct link to China, so it’s an important route with a major trade and tourism market.
When will Qantas join the pack and fly internationally from Adelaide once again? surely with the Qantas Adelaide lounge upgrades progressing it’s finally on the cards, once they can finally get some new aircraft suitably for this route delivered. Meanwhile will the additional Qatar+Virgin service Adelaide as well ?
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The story of Qantas and international flying out of Adelaide is a short one.
In the 1980s, Qantas operated a Boeing 747 service between Sydney and Singapore, with a stop in Adelaide. This route was eventually discontinued.
Google AI tells me there are plans for Qantas to reintroduce a direct flight between Adelaide and Singapore.