Category Archives: China Southern Airlines

China Southern Airlines is uncertain on whether it will take any more Boeing 737 MAX deliveries

China Southern Airlines Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 B-1122 (msn 43951) BFI (Brian Worthington). Image: 957667.

China Southern Airlines has stated it has not yet confirmed a timetable for the delivery of its remaining Boeing 737 MAX jets on order from Boeing.

The airline has 24 Boeing 737-8 MAX 8s grounded in China although Chinese authorities has authorized the type to fly again.

Complicating the issue has been the dramatic downturn in traffic in China due to the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.

Previously the airline predicted 39 MAX jets would be delivered in 2022, 37 in 2023 and 27 in 2024. This is now in doubt.

Top Copyright Photo: China Southern Airlines Boeing 737-8 MAX 8 B-1122 (msn 43951) BFI (Brian Worthington). Image: 957667.

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China Southern starts the retirement of its Airbus A380s

All A380s to be retired by the end of 2022

China Southern Airlines has started its retirement of its five Airbus A380s.

Quietly B-6136 and B-6137 have been flown to Victorville, CA for storage and disposal.

The other three aircraft should be removed from service by the end of 2022.

China Southern was the lone A380 operator in China.

Top Copyright Photo: China Southern Airlines Airbus A380-841 B-6140 (msn 120) AMS (Ton Jochems). Image: 956910.

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Qatar Airways and China Southern expand their codeshare agreement

Qatar Airways and China Southern Airlines has signed a joint Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) confirming a significant expansion of the existing codeshare agreement, and outlining greater benefits and more seamless connections between the two partners.

The comprehensive MoU signed by Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, and China Southern Airlines President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Han Wensheng, builds upon the existing codeshare agreement signed by the airlines in December 2019.

As part of the collaboration, all future flights between China and Qatar will be codeshared, allowing passengers to benefit from seamless connecting flights. The closer cooperation will also provide greater customer benefits, including increased joint lounge access and a soon-to-be confirmed enhanced frequent flyer agreement. In addition, the two airlines agreed to support the growth of Beijing’s Daxing International Airport, into a leading international aviation hub for both passenger and cargo services.

The expanded codeshare agreement is the latest development in Qatar Airways program of strengthening strategic cooperation between key global airlines, which has already seen partnerships with American Airlines, JetBlue, Alaska Airlines, Oman Air and RwandaAir in recent months.

The enhanced cooperation between Qatar Airways and China Southern Airlines is subject to the lifting of current travel restrictions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and regulatory approvals.

The national carrier of the State of Qatar continues to rebuild its network, which currently stands at over 140 destinations. With more frequencies being added to key hubs, Qatar Airways offers unrivaled connectivity to passengers, making it easy for them to change their travel dates or destination as required.

Qatar Airways and China Southern Airlines launch a codeshare

Qatar Airways has announced the first stage of codeshare cooperation with China Southern Airlines has begun with the Chinese carrier placing its code on Qatar Airways flights between Guangzhou and Doha. Flights are already available for sale with the first codeshare flights starting on December 27, 2020.

This codeshare agreement is the first step in the strengthening of cooperation between both airlines, since Qatar Airways acquired 5 per cent of China Southern Airlines in December 2018. The codeshare flights will enable China Southern Airlines’ passengers to book travel on Qatar Airways’ flights between Guangzhou and Doha and onwards to more than 60 destinations in Africa, Europe and the Middle East. The next stage of the codeshare agreement will see the Chinese carrier also place its code on Qatar Airways flights between Beijing and Doha, once the current restrictions for flights in and out of China are lifted.

Qatar Airways strategic investment in a variety of fuel-efficient twin-engine aircraft, including the largest fleet of Airbus A350 aircraft, has enabled it to continue flying throughout this crisis and perfectly positions it to lead the sustainable recovery of international travel. The airline recently took delivery of three new state-of-the-art Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, increasing its total A350 fleet to 52 with an average age of just 2.6 years. Due to COVID-19’s impact on travel demand, the airline has grounded its fleet of Airbus A380s as it is not environmentally justifiable to operate such a large four-engine aircraft in the current market. Qatar Airways has also recently launched a new program that enables passengers to voluntarily offset the carbon emissions associated with their journey at the point of booking.

The national carrier of the State of Qatar continues to rebuild its network, which currently stands at over 100 destinations and plans to increase to 129 by the end of March 2021.

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British Airways and China Southern Airlines launch joint business

British Airways has signed a joint business agreement with China Southern Airlines, for travel from January 2, 2020.

The agreement will benefit customers of both airlines by opening more destinations between the UK and China, with a greater choice of flights and enhanced frequent flyer benefits. It will allow the airlines to cooperate on scheduling and pricing, providing customers with more flexible flight options and an attractive range of fares.

British Airways customers will be able to travel more easily on a combined route network which will develop over time thanks to both airlines’ move to the new Beijing Daxing International Airport. The joint business will initially see the two airlines code-sharing on all direct flights operated on mainland routes between London and the Chinese cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Sanya, Wuhan and Zhengzhou. This will expand to both airlines’ extensive domestic networks.

Customer benefits will include greater opportunities to collect frequent flyer points, the ability to book through both airlines’ web or app-based platforms, enhanced lounge access and access to high-quality Chinese and British products and services on board and on the ground.

  • British Airways and China Southern Airlines launched a codeshare agreement across ten routes in 2017. In January 2019, the airlines signed a Memorandum of Understanding to expand the agreement on each other’s networks and implement reciprocal frequent flyer benefits.
  • In October 2019, British Airways was the first international airline to its all operations to Beijing Daxing International Airport, in recognition of its importance in driving travel between China and the UK and its offer of a world-class customer experience.
  • Under the joint business, customers will initially benefit from 31 direct flights a week between London and the six Chinese locations.

China Southern Airlines takes delivery of its first Airbus A350-900

China Southern's first Airbus A350-900, to become B-308T

China Southern Airlines has taken delivery of its first of 20 Airbus A350-900s, becoming the newest operator of this latest generation and highly efficient twin-engine, long-range wide-body aircraft. The Guangzhou-based carrier operates an Airbus fleet of 335 aircraft, including 282 A320 Family aircraft, 48 A330 Family aircraft and five A380 aircraft (figures at the end of May 2019).

China Southern’s A350-900 aircraft features a modern and comfortable three-class cabin layout of 314 seats: 28 business, 24 premium economy and 262 economy. The airline will initially operate the new aircraft on its domestic routes from Guangzhou to Shanghai and Beijing, followed by flights to international destinations.

At the end of May 2019, the A350 XWB Family had received 893 firm orders from 51 customers worldwide, making it one of the most successful wide-body aircraft ever.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by Airbus): China Southern Airlines Airbus A350-941 F-WZGP (B-308T) (msn 318) TLS (Eurospot). Image: 946674.

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Finnair and China Southern launch codeshare cooperation that brings five new destinations for Finnair customers in China

Finnair and China Southern Airlines have agreed on new codeshare partnership starting on  June 1, 2019. The cooperation includes the Finnair route between Guangzhou and Helsinki, and selected China Southern destinations in China.

The new codeshare partnership adds five new destinations to Finnair´s network in China, and customers will be able to connect with China Southern from Guangzhou to Changsha (CSX), Chongqing (CKG), Hangzhou (HGH), Nanjing (NKG), Sanya (SYX), Wenzhou (WNZ), Xiamen (XMN) and Xi´an (XIY).

In addition, China Southern code CZ will be added to Finnair flights from Helsinki to several popular destinations in Europe: Amsterdam (AMS), Billund (BLL), Copenhagen (CPH), Goteborg (GOT), London (LHR), Paris (CDG), Riga (RIX) and Stockholm (ARN).

The new codeshare flights can be booked from May 21, 2019 onwards.

Finnair recently moved to the new Terminal 2 in Guangzhou Baiyun Airport. Terminal 2 is optimised and designed for smooth transfer traffic. This this move also supports the codeshare collaboration between Finnair and China Southern, who offers extensive domestic connections from Guangzhou onwards.

4 airliners test the new Beijing Daxing International Airport

Four airliners landed today (May 13) at the new Beijing Daxing International Airport during a test of the new facilities.

The new airport is designed to someday become the world’s busiest airport.

Photos from China Southern Airlines. As the first plane of the trial flights, our  Airbus A380 took off from Beijing Capital Airport at 9:03 a.m. and successfully landed at Daxing International Airport half an hour later.

Air China made this announcement with a photo:

May 13 – An Air China  Boeing 747 -8 landed smoothly at Beijing Daxing Int’l Airport, successfully completing its first test flight at the new mega-airport. It’s an important milestone for the airport, which is set to become one of the world’s busiest. PKX , we’re ready for takeoff!

Xiamen Airlines issued this statement and photos on social media:

On May 13, the newly constructed Beijing Daxing International Airport has finished its four verification test flights. Our Boeing 787 United Dream, equipped with our best staff, landed smoothly and safely.

From Wikipedia:

Beijing Daxing International Airport (IATA: PKX; ICAO: ZBAD), located on the border of Beijing and Langfang, Hebei Province, is Beijing’s second international airport and is currently under construction.

The name of the airport was announced on September 14, 2018. The terminal building, the second-largest single-building airport terminal after Istanbul Airport, with an area of more than 1,000,000 m2 (11,000,000 sq ft), is expected to be completed on July 15, 2019, and the airport is expected to be open on September 30, 2019.

Upon completion, it will serve as a major international hub airport in Northern China. There will be 4 runways, and approximately 80 aircraft stands, most of which can be configured to handle either one twin-aisle or two single-aisle aircraft. The new airport is expecting a total of 7 runways and another terminal to the south of the current one in the future, in order to accommodate 620,000 flights and 100 million passengers each year.

Videos:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AI58h98ZNRI&w=560&h=315%5D

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLMgjGdl16o&w=560&h=315%5D

Air Lease Corporation announces delivery of first of five new Boeing 787-9 aircraft with China Southern Airlines

First visit to LAX

Air Lease Corporation (ALC) announced the delivery of one new Boeing 787-9 aircraft on a long-term lease to China Southern Airlines today.

Featuring GEnx-1B76A engines, this aircraft is the first of five 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft scheduled to deliver to China Southern Airlines through 2020 from ALC’s order book with Boeing.

China Southern has just started operating the 787-9 into Los Angeles on March 31.

Top Copyright Photo: China Southern Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner B-1167 (msn 38796) LAX (Michael B. Ing). Image: 946134.

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