Tourism growth drives China Southern's extra New Zealand flights

WELLINGTON - China Southern Airlines is to add four extra direct flights between Auckland and Guangzhou each week, bringing the number to 14, during the summer peak season.

The airline would operate a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft on the extra services from Oct 26 this year to March 29 next year, China Southern and Auckland Airport announced in a joint statement Thursday.

Mike Ma, China Southern Airlines general manager, said the strong tourism demand between China and New Zealand had given the carrier great confidence in the Auckland-Guangzhou route.

"New Zealand plays a strong role in China Southern's internationalization strategy. We have seen significant growth in New Zealand transit visitors via Guangzhou," Ma said in the statement.

Auckland Airport acting general manager aeronautical commercial Charles Spillane said the extra flights would add 30,000 seats to the route and inject 43 million NZ dollars ($37.31 million) into the New Zealand economy.

"China is rapidly becoming one of New Zealand's top visitor markets and China Southern Airlines has recognized this. China Southern started flying the Guangzhou-Auckland route in April 2011 with three services per week. Within three years they have increased flights to twice daily," Spillane said in the statement.

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