China Southern Airlines has confirmed it will resume direct flights to Adelaide from December, securing a significant tourism and trade boost for South Australia.
The relaunched China Southern Airlines flights is the latest international service to return to South Australia, bringing the number of direct international airlines to Adelaide to nine.
China Southern Airlines is one of the three largest airlines in China with more than 900 aircraft in its domestic and international fleet.
Returning from 12 December 2024, China Southern Airlines will fly three times per week return direct from Guangzhou to Adelaide, reconnecting the state with its second largest international tourism market.
Operating on a Boeing Dreamliner 787 – 8, the direct flights will provide an extra 798 seats per week, opening up new opportunities for trade and tourism.
China Southern Airlines first launched its direct Guangzhou to Adelaide service in December 2016, offering three flights per week before operations ceased in March 2020 due to the global pandemic.
The state government estimates the tourism economic impact of three direct non-stop China Southern Airline flights per week is estimated to generate more than $69 million annually and create in excess of 255 full-time equivalent tourism related jobs for South Australians.
The direct flights will reconnect South Australia to the Chinese market which is beginning to rebound since the pandemic. In 2019, there were 66,000 visitors to South Australia from China, generating $384 million to the state’s visitor economy. In the year ending March 2024, the Chinese market had recovered to $145 million – up 131 per cent on the year to March 2023.
The China Southern Airline flights will also connect the state to Asia, the Middle East, Africa as well as Europe and North America which are also important tourism markets to South Australia.
