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China Southern Airlines will boost its Brisbane–Guangzhou service to daily later this year.
Starting in June, the carrier, China’s largest and one of the country’s “Big Four”, will increase its A350-900 flights from four to seven per week between Brisbane and Guangzhou, adding 48,984 inbound seats to Queensland from China per year.
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“China is one of Queensland’s most important inbound tourism markets, so the step-up to daily flights by China Southern Airlines is a big boost for local jobs,” Brisbane Airport chief executive Gert-Jan de Graaff said.
“We know visitors travelling to Brisbane disperse throughout the state, so we could not be happier with this news.”
China Southern returned to Brisbane with four weekly flights in late 2023, the second of the “Big Four” to do so after China Eastern. The new additional flights will depart on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
China Southern’s regional general manager for Australia and New Zealand, Jason Sun Zhixing, said the increase to daily services “reflects China Southern Airlines’ confidence in the route’s strong performance and its promising future growth”.
“This decision not only responds proactively to robust market demand, but also represents a pivotal step toward fostering deeper development in the China-Australia aviation market,” he said.
Queensland Minister for the Environment and Tourism, Andrew Powell, added that the increased cargo capacity from the flights will benefit exporters, and that “Queensland is open for business and ready to welcome more visitors from China”.
“Increased flights to China also mean exceptional access to markets across Asia for Queensland exporters and that’s great news for regional economies,” Minister Powell said.
Brisbane Airport last year showed off renders of its renovated international terminal, designed to accelerate its international performance.
The works, which form part of the airport’s $5 billion transformation program, will see the most significant changes to the terminal in its 29 years of operation.
Security and passport control will be relocated from level three to a “light-filled atrium” on level four, while security screening equipment will be enhanced, self-service check-in and bag drop installed, baggage systems upgraded, and retail offerings expanded, including a doubling in size of the duty-free area.
“Our international terminal is Queensland’s gateway to the world. After three decades of service, it’s well and truly time for a transformation, ensuring it’s ready to welcome the world for years to come,” de Graaff said at the time.
Construction will be phased to minimise disruption, with works expected to be completed by 2027.
