China Southern Seeks Approval for Shenzhen-Sydney, Shenzhen-Dubai Flights

China Southern Airlines (CZ), the national's largest carrier, has filed an application to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) for launching two international routes from Shenzhen to Sydney and Dubai at the end of this year and early next year, respectively.

Pending government, starting Dec. 1, the Guangzhou-based carrier will operate the Shenzhen-Sydney service four times weekly, using Airbus A330/A333 or Boeing 787/777-300ER aircraft. The Shenzhen-Wuhan-Dubai service will be operated three times weekly with Airbus A332/A333 or Boeing 777-300ER/787, effective Jan. 1, 2016, according to notices released Wednesday evening on the CAAC's website.

Separately, China Southern also has asked the CAAC for the permission to launch Guilin-Guangzhou-Osaka round-trip service in the near future. If granted approval, the new route will be operated daily with Boeing 737-700/737-800 or Airbus A320/A319 aircraft.

The Air Transportation Department of CAAC is soliciting public comments on the three applications until Oct. 28, 29 and Oct. 30, respectively.

Chinese airlines rarely operate long-haul transcontinental or intercontinental services from Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport (SZX); through it is actually an important market for civil aviation industry. Last year, China Southern launched its Shenzhen-Mauritius service, marking the first long-haul route operated by domestic carriers.

Early this year, Shenzhen Airlines (ZH) announced to launch first nonstop service linking the city with Tokyo, Japan, starting Jan. 1, 2016.