China Southern To Operate Guangzhou-Auckland Route

China Southern Airlines, the country's largest domestic carrier, has announced that it is set to launch round flights between Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province and Auckland, New Zealand on April 8, 2011 — instead of via Melbourne as previously announced.

China Southern said it is the first domestic carrier to operate flights to New Zealand, and the new route will be more convenient for domestic passengers flying to New Zealand.

Flights on the Guangzhou to Auckland route will be operated three times a week using Airbus A330 aircraft. Outbound flights will leave Guangzhou every Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday at 23:50 and arrive in Auckland at 15:20 local time the next day. Return flights will leave Auckland every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 22:00 local time and arrive in Guangzhou at 06:00 the next day.

China Southern has already launched flights linking Guangzhou to Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.