TravTalk India Online Magazine
As China Southern Airlines celebrates ten years of its New Delhi to Guangzhou flight, TRAVTALK maps their journey so far and takes a look deeper in to its future course.
NIKHIL ANAND
It was back in October 2007 when China Southern Airlines began their tryst with the Indian market. From a humble beginning, comprising only three flights a week, the airline has come a long way to now operate double dailies between New Delhi and Guangzhou. With no direct connectivity into Guangzhou before China Southern commenced operations, Indian travellers had to go all the way to Hong Kong and then take alternative means of commute or travel to other intermediary points like Bangkok, etc.
To celebrate their 10th anniversary milestone with the Indian trade, China Southern Airlines hosted a glitzy evening in the national capital, raising a toast to the long-standing relationship with the Indian industry. Addressing the gathering, Gloria Wang, General Manager, China Southern Airlines, exclaimed, “Over this 10-year journey we not only witnessed innovations, diversity and quality improvements but what we drew most from the Indian market was cooperation and strength out of this relationship. I feel that this journey has been equally beneficial to both the countries. India continues to be a very valuable market for us and we look forward to continue providing our air services and develop stronger bonds with the Indian travel community.”
India continues to be a very valuable market for us and we look forward to continue providing our air services and develop stronger bonds with the Indian travel community.
The airline, Wang added, is doing really well in this market owing to its popularity amongst travellers looking to visit China and beyond and is currently seeing an average passenger load factor of over 80 per cent. Due to its sheer size, the Indian market has increasingly become one of the key emerging markets globally and China Southern Airlines was quick to realise the potential of the country. The airline is looking forward to expanding its operations in India, with new routes and frequencies in the coming years. While in the last 10 years the airline has cemented its presence in the Indian market, it has also made attempts to leapfrog on the global scale with the augment of new destinations like Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Vancouver, San Francisco, New York, Christchurch, Adelaide, Toronto and Mexico.
The celebratory evening also marked the unveiling of the airline’s new flight to Cairns from December 4, 2017. Cairns will be the sixth destination for China Southern airlines’ operations into Australia and give the Indian traveller another convenient option to fly to the land down under via Guangzhou with three weekly flight options. Speaking about the airline’s commitment to the Indian market, she also added, “Our extensive global networking allows us the ability to transport Indian travellers not only to China but also to the world. With the largest fleet in the People’s Republic of China, we have connections ranging from North America to Australia to New Zealand, etc.” She further added that by 2020, the airline will have over 1000 aircraft in its fleet and their flying map will cover many more international destinations.
Achieving Milestone
- China Southern Airlines hosted a glitzy evening in Delhi, raising a toast to the long-standing relationship with the Indian industry
- The celebratory evening also marked the unveiling of the airline’s new flight to Cairns, the airline’s sixth destination in Australia with three weekly flight options from India
The cocktail event also saw agency awards handed out to numerous travel agents to recognize their efforts in aiding the growth of the airline. Expressing gratitude to the travel agents for their continued business and support, Wang stressed the pivotal role played by the agents to promote China Southern Airlines as the main carrier between India and China and also beyond. For the next decade as well, the airline will look to further its partnership with the Indian travel trade to fuel success for both parties cohesively.
