China Southern Airlines is making a significant move to strengthen its presence in the Australian market with the addition of two new routes departing from Beijing Daxing Airport (PKX). These new services, set to launch in December 2024, aim to cater to the growing demand for travel between China and Australia, offering enhanced connectivity between the two nations.
On December 13th, China Southern will inaugurate its inaugural route from PKX to Australia, connecting Beijing Daxing to Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport. This route will operate four times a week, utilizing Airbus A330-300 aircraft, providing a premium travel experience with 28 business-class seats and 258 economy-class seats.
The following day, December 14th, China Southern will launch its second new service, connecting Beijing Daxing to Melbourne Airport, with three weekly flights. These flights will also be operated by A330-300 aircraft, offering the same luxurious seating configuration as the Sydney route.
Both of these new routes are initially scheduled to operate for a 10-week season, allowing China Southern to gauge demand and assess performance. This strategic move builds upon China Southern’s existing strong presence in the China-Australia market, where it currently operates four nonstop routes. These existing routes include services from Guangzhou to Sydney and Melbourne, as well as flights from Shenzhen to Sydney and Guangzhou to Brisbane.
The addition of the new Beijing Daxing routes will significantly bolster China Southern’s capacity in the region, with the airline offering nearly 18,800 two-way seats on China-Australia routes during this expansion period. This capacity represents approximately 86% of the airline’s pre-pandemic offerings in 2019, highlighting China Southern’s commitment to restoring and growing its market share.
Currently, China Southern holds a 28% market share in the China-Australia sector, ranking second to China Eastern Airlines (31%), followed by Xiamen Airlines (10.8%). These figures underscore China Southern’s pivotal role in connecting the two countries and its unwavering intent to remain a key player in this thriving market.
China Southern’s expansion comes at a time when other airlines are also intensifying their operations between China and Australia. Air China recently announced plans to increase its Beijing Capital to Sydney service from four weekly flights to daily, commencing on October 28, 2024. This move is expected to heighten competition, particularly on the Beijing-Sydney route.
In addition to the new services from Beijing Daxing, China Southern is also set to resume its Guangzhou to Adelaide service on December 12th, operating three times a week. This marks the return of this route for the first time since the pandemic, further expanding China Southern’s reach in Australia.
The introduction of these new routes aligns with the broader recovery of international air travel and the increasing demand for flights between China and Australia. As both nations continue to reopen their borders and ease travel restrictions, airlines are capitalizing on the surge in demand for leisure, business, and student travel.
China Southern’s decision to launch new services from Beijing Daxing, China’s newest international hub, underlines its commitment to enhancing global connectivity. The airport’s state-of-the-art facilities and strategic location provide an ideal gateway for travelers seeking connections between the two regions.
China Southern’s new routes to Sydney and Melbourne from Beijing Daxing are expected to solidify its competitive edge in the market while offering passengers a wider range of travel options. By reintroducing and expanding its services, the airline aims to further solidify its position as a key player in the China-Australia aviation market.
With the airline already offering a substantial portion of the available seats between the two countries, China Southern’s continued expansion efforts indicate a strong commitment to meeting the growing demand and supporting the recovery of international travel. As the initial 10-week season for these new routes unfolds, China Southern will likely evaluate the performance and feasibility of extending or expanding the services based on demand, ensuring that travelers between China and Australia have access to flexible, reliable, and competitive air travel options.
