China Southern Airlines marks its grand return to Brisbane

Flight CZ381 touched down 30 minutes early, with every seat full.

The long-awaited return of Chinese carriers to Australian shores continues apace with the latest arrival into Brisbane seeing China Southern Airlines arrive 30 minutes ahead of schedule.

Landing for the first time in almost four years into the Queensland capital, China’s largest carrier will initially operate four flights per week to Brisbane and will increase to daily services from 8 December to cater for peak season demand.

The route is seen as critical to help restore Queensland’s most lucrative tourism market as it reconnects the state with China’s key gateway of Guangzhou.

Pre-pandemic, China accounted for almost one in five international visitors and generated $1.6 billion in overnight visitor spending in 2019.

China Southern's crew were met with some fluffy Australian mascots.

Over the next three years China Southern has the potential to bring in 277,896 visitors, generating approximately $440 million for the visitor economy and supporting 1,790 Queensland jobs.

“Today’s arrival supercharges the inbound Chinese tourism market, creating good jobs right here in Queensland,” said Brisbane Airport Corporation CEO, Gert-Jan de Graaff.

“It is the group travel market and their itineraries that will deliver large numbers of tourists from China into this state’s regions including the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and of course the Great Barrier Reef is a huge magnet.

“This is also a restored route for Queensland’s exports to make their way to one of the world’s largest markets.”

Guangzhou is the 28th international destination now serviced directly from Brisbane Airport.