China Southern will begin flights between New York and its home hub of Guangzhou next year using its new Boeing 777-300ER as the airline gears up for continued international growth.
“Currently we don’t have any presence on the (North American) east coast, so next year we plan to launch a new Guangzhou-New York service” said China Southern CEO Tan Wangeng during a press briefing in Guangzhou to mark the debut of the airline’s Airbus A380 service to Sydney and Boeing 787 flights to Auckland.
However, Tan said the New York route hinges on the delivery of the airline’s first Boeing 777-300ER, due in the middle of 2014.
“We are waiting for the appropriate aircraft type for this service which can fly the long range” Tan said. “Next July we will take delivery of a brand new Boeing 777-300ER which will make this route possible.”
Tan is also eying expansion into Europe, but sees the airline’s first priority as increasing flights on its current routes.
“For example, we can also consider double daily flights for Guangzhou-London, one in the morning and one in the evening, to also provide better connections with our flights from Australia.”
Australian Business Traveller is visiting Guangzhou and travelling on China Southern's inaugural A380 service to Sydney as a guest of China Southern.
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David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 May 2011
Total posts 732
David, which cabin are you travelling? CWill you do a report?
It would be great if CZ would ply the CAN-JFK route, although it is a bit of a detour, it would mean more competition and hopefully the 777-300 will sport the latest cabins, in which case it should be pretty comfortable in premium classes.
Cathay Pacific - Asia Miles
25 Apr 2013
Total posts 542
The 777-300ER sports a staggered flat cabin for Business and no First Class (surprise, surprise).
25 Sep 2013
Total posts 1242
There's a break halfway in the text.
"Tan is also eying expansion into Europe, but sees the airline’s first priority as increasing flights on its current routes, including"
Cathay Pacific - Asia Miles
25 Apr 2013
Total posts 542
It wouldn't be an economic option to fly from CAN - HKG - CAN, but it would be quite a good option to fly from CAN - HKG - (somewhere south of HKG) - HKG - CAN. As long as it's not like Cathay - Cathay doesn't let any Australians on the BNE - CNS sector of its CX 103. Hope I have a 787/380 choice from HKG to CAN and some other place like SYD or SIN or, even, BKK.
Cathay Pacific - Asia Miles
25 Apr 2013
Total posts 542
Sorry. Meant to post this in "China Southern’s A380 comes to Sydney next week". Hope I don't get too many "dislikes" on the previous comment
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