(中国南方航空) (, ) is an
Airline based in
Guangzhou in the
Guangdong province of the
People's Republic Of China . It is one of the leading airlines in China operating domestic, regional and international services.
Its main operations hub is at
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport , with hubs at
Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport (XMN),
Zhuhai Airport (ZUH),
Shantou Airport (SWA),
Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport ,
Wuhan Tianhe Airport (WUH), Haikou Airport (HAK),
Guiyang Airport (KWE),
Guilin Airport (KWL),
Changsha Airport (CSX),
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport ,
Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport (CGO).
The airline was established in March
1995 . In June
1997 China Southern Airlines initial public stock offering on the
New York and
Hong Kong stock exchanges generated over $700 million. In July
2000 ,
Civil Aviation Administration Of China (CAAC), announced that it had selected China Southern as one of three airlines to lead the restructuring of China's air transport industry. It acquired
Zhongyuan Airlines on
4 August 2000 . In January
2003 the airline absorbed
China Northern Airlines and its subsidiaries Beiya Airlines and China Northern Swan, as well as
China Xinjiang Airlines , into its domestic operations. In November
2004 the acquisition was completed as China Southern acquired the holding company that owned China Northern and China Xinjiang.
In 2004, the company achieved a turnover of around 40 million passengers, becoming one of the top ten passenger carriers in the world. Among all Chinese airlines, it boasts the largest fleet with the most bases, most extensive domestic networks and highest flight frequencies. Renowned for its excellent passenger services, the airline has won Five-star Diamond Award for flight services and has been honoured as China's best airline by TTG Asia Magazine.
It signed a Memorandum of Understanding on
August 28 ,
2004 with
SkyTeam Alliance , which it will then be able to join, thus becoming the first
Mainland Chinese airline to enter a global airline alliance. Members of any SkyTeam mileage program can redeem miles on China Southern by contacting the issuing airline.
- November 24 , 1992 , China Southern flight CZ3943, a Boeing 737 jetliner (Reg. B-2523) crashed in to a hill near Guilin , Guangxi , killing all 141 on board, due to an engine thrust malfunction.
- May 8 , 1997 , China Southern flight CZ3456, a Boeing 737 jetliner (Reg. B-2925) crashed on approach into Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport killing 35, with 9 injured.
The China Southern Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft (at September 2005):
In March 2006, China Southern Airlines fleet age is 8.1 years old.
- Delivery of the first Airbus A330 -243 to China Southern Airlines took place on 25 February 2005 , with the second in March 2005. It is the first operator of the type in China and has a further two on order due for delivery in the first half of 2005. The aircraft seats 266 passengers and will be operated mainly on medium and long range routes, including some possible new international routes.
- China Southern Airlines has agreed a leasing deal for 9 Boeing 737-800 from GECAS for 7 years, with deliveries to be completed by February 2006 (ref: Airliner World, March 2005).
- An agreement has been signed with Airbus for the purchase of 5 Airbus A380 -800 aircraft for delivery in time for the 2008 Olympics. It is the first commitment for the type from a Chinese carrier. China Southern has also signed initial agreement for the purchase of 13 Boeing 787 aircraft, of which 3 would be for its affiliate Xiamen Airlines . The aircraft would be delivered between 2008 and 2010 (ref: Airliner World, April 2005).
- The airline has placed an order for 10 Airbus A330 aircraft in a deal worth $1.5bn (£815m) announced during a visit to China by United Kingdom Prime Minister , Tony Blair on European Union business. The aircraft are due for delivery in 2007 and 2008 (ref: BBC News, 6 September 2005).
