Significantly improved links with China hailed by Auckland Airport

China Southern Airlines now accelerating to daily flights

New Zealand visa processing presence in China expanded

Very positive moves for New Zealand’s tourism aspirations

Auckland Airport has today hailed the development of significantly improved air-links between China and New Zealand, supported by an expanded visa administrative presence and commitment to improved processing by the New Zealand Government.

Chief executive at Auckland Airport, Simon Moutter, said, “The announcement last night from China Southern Airlines that they intend to increase to daily flights later this year is a massive show of their confidence in New Zealand, and will deliver enormous economic opportunities and benefits to the country.”

It is anticipated that the swift acceleration to daily air-services from one of the largest and fastest growing airlines in the world will potentially bring in an extra 50,000 visitors per year and generate $150 million of additional value to New Zealand.

The Honourable Jonathan Coleman, the Associate Minister of Tourism and Minister of Immigration, has also announced that Immigration New Zealand will shortly have a Visa Acceptance Centre operational in Guangzhou, and will expand their presence in Beijing and Shanghai.

The arriving inaugural flight of China Southern Airlines was greeted at Auckland Airport on Saturday by the Prime Minister.

Mr Moutter said, “The importance of the support of the New Zealand Government in helping to secure this outcome cannot be understated. China Southern Airlines has brought nearly 100 tourism and trade VIPs with them from Guangzhou in order to sample some of the best experiences that New Zealand has to offer, and the commitment from everyone in industry and government to work in partnership and friendship with them has been vital.”

“This huge increase in services from China Southern Airlines to their Guangzhou hub, along with the recently expanded Air New Zealand services to Beijing and Shanghai, opens up even more of China to New Zealand tourism and trade. It also offers travellers access to the rapidly expanding China Southern Airlines network, including a planned direct connection to London from Guangzhou,” said Mr Moutter.

Recently voted the eighth best airport in the world, Auckland Airport has been very focused in recent years on growing connections between New Zealand and China in order to capture more of the phenomenal tourism growth expected out of this booming market.

Mr Moutter said, “China and its people are increasingly important to New Zealand. In 2010, Chinese tourist arrivals increased 20% to 123,000, and they are now spending on average $300 per night, more than European, North American and other Asian tourists. We expect this to grow as the Chinese become more confident travellers This new service is particularly important to New Zealand as China has already become the number one tourism market by value to Australia at $3 billion AUD.”

Ends

Key facts:

• China Southern Airlines flight CZ306 is scheduled to leave Auckland on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2200hrs. The return flight, CZ305, leaves Guangzhou at 2350 (local time), and arrives in Auckland at 1520 the following day. Flights depart Guangzhou Baiyun airport on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. This schedule will increase to daily later this year.

• The new route will feature the newest aircraft from the China Southern airlines fleet and will improve access across China, through the airline’s Guangzhou hub, with travellers not needing to change airlines when travelling further into the country or to other global hubs.

• China Southern Airlines operates a modern fleet of over 400 Boeing and Airbus aircraft and flies to 34 cities across China. The A330-200 aircraft to be operated between Auckland and Guangzhou will feature a full service of 142 economy seats, 48 Premium Economy class seats, 24 business class and 4 first-class. Flying time to Guangzhou is approximately 11.5 hours.

• China Southern Airlines has to date already spent over $10 million promoting New Zealand as a tourism destination for Chinese travellers.

• New Zealand currently welcomes 123,000 visitors from China each year, making it New Zealand's fourth-largest visitor market after Australia, the UK and USA, and it is the fastest growing market.

• Chinese visitors are amongst the highest spending visitors to NZ, spending on average more per night than any other visitor with exception of Japan. With average expenditure per night of holiday visitors at over $300 per night we know these new flights will bring a significant increase the export earnings for New Zealand.

• Asia is now the biggest travel market in the world and forecast to grow the fastest over the next 20 years (IATA) with air-links being a critical component for accessing that potential growth.

ENDS

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