CHINA Southern Airlines started thrice-weekly flights from Guangzhou (Baiyun) to London (Heathrow) on June 6, 2012.

Operated using an Airbus A330-300 aircraft, this is the first-ever direct connection between Guangzhou and London, and China Southern’s third non-stop European service after Paris and Amsterdam.

The new route is expected to foster greater economic and cultural exchange between the two cities, and provide a convenient flight option for Chinese sports fans wanting to watch the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

Last October, China Southern doubled its Guangzhou-Melbourne services to twice-daily (TTG Asia e-Daily, August 8, 2011).

Si Xianming, president of China Southern Air Holding Company, said: “When flying between Europe and Australia or New Zealand, Guangzhou is as good a transit point as Hong Kong or Singapore."

"Launching the Guangzhou-London route enables us to transfer more (European) passengers (onward via Guangzhou) to Australia and New Zealand. It is an important part of China Southern’s global expansion strategy.”

Si added that China Southern was planning to establish additional routes to Australia and New Zealand, such as Guangzhou-Cairns and Guangzhou-Adelaide, as well as flights to South America, Africa and other emerging markets.