China Southern Reopens Two Tibet Routes

China Southern Airlines is reopening two routes to Tibet: from Guangzhou and from Beijing.

The Guangzhou-Chongqing-Lhasa route (flight number CZ3463, return flight number CZ3464) was resumed on April 7 2009 using Airbus A319 aircraft. On June 1, 2009, the Beijing-Chongqing-Lhasa route (flight number CZ3183, return flight number CZ3184) will be resumed using a wide-body Airbus A333. The Guangzhou-Lhasa route is scheduled for each Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday; and the Beijing-Lhasa route will take off daily.

Since 2009 is the 50th anniversary of the "liberation of serfs" in Tibet, the number of domestic tourists into Tibet is expected increase from April. And July and August will be peak times for the Tibetan tourism market. Guangzhou and Beijing are not only China's main tourist source regions but are also important transit hubs for overseas tourists visiting China.