OREANDA-NEWS. China Southern Airlines upgauging one of its twice daily services to an Airbus A380 from today.

China Southern Airlines upgauging one of its twice daily services to an Airbus A380 from today
Aircraft flying on popular Canton route
Sydney Airport is Australia’s gateway to China and a hub for next generation aircraft

Sydney Airport today welcomed China Southern Airlines‟ first Airbus A380 service, which further strengthens Sydney Airport‟s status as Australia‟s primary gateway to China.

“Sydney Airport is excited to welcome China Southern‟s A380 aircraft on the popular Guangzhou-Sydney route in time for the busy holiday season and ahead of Chinese New Year,” Sydney Airport Chief Executive Officer, Kerrie Mather, said.

“This additional A380 for Sydney will add more than 160,000 annual seats, boosting tourism and trade between Australia and China, delivering a further estimated USD 100 million in additional annual visitor expenditure to the New South Wales economy, and providing an associated increase in jobs.

“Close to 400,000 Chinese resident visitors visited Sydney in the past financial year. Chinese passengers are consistently our highest growing passenger group – with annual growth averaging almost 14 per cent over the past four years – and last year became our second largest international passenger group.

“China provides a huge tourism opportunity for Sydney and it‟s essential that we‟re well placed to serve this important market. At Sydney Airport, we‟re ensuring we‟re „China-ready‟ for our Chinese customers, with our iPhone and Android apps, mobile website and desktop website all now available in simplified Chinese.

“We‟ve also installed Chinese wayfinding signage and introduced Mandarin-speaking Red Ambassadors to assist our Chinese customers.”

Since 2009, China Southern‟s number of annual passengers has increased by 167 per cent. It is the fourth airline to fly the A380 to Sydney, which is quieter and more efficient than the older A330 aircraft it replaces.

Sydney Airport is now the world‟s fifth busiest A380 airport – catering to 120 flights per week – and is a hub for next generation aircraft.

It is also Australia‟s gateway to China, with seven airlines currently serving greater China from Sydney, providing more than 90 frequencies per week.