China Southern Airlines will increase capacity on its Guangzhou-Sydney route, raising frequencies to four daily round trips between December 13, 2025, and February 24, 2026. The enhanced schedule coincides with the carrier's celebration of 25 years of direct flights between the two cities.
The anniversary was marked on December 6 with a themed departure jointly organized with Destination NSW, the New South Wales government’s tourism agency. A route promotion event followed in Sydney on December 8, where China Southern reviewed the development of the service over the past quarter-century and presented its current products and transit options. In 2024, the Guangzhou-Sydney route carried around 412,000 passengers, the highest among all China-Australia services, according to the airline.
On the same day, China Southern signed a code-share agreement with Virgin Australia, which will take effect in early 2026. The partnership will allow passengers arriving in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, or Darwin to connect seamlessly to 17 destinations across Australia, New Zealand, and Vanuatu, including Cairns, Queenstown, and Port Vila, expanding travel options for both leisure and business travelers.
China Southern currently operates direct flights from Guangzhou to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, and Darwin (the service was newly launched on December 3), plus Shenzhen-Sydney, offering up to 77 weekly flights during peak season. The airline says the boosted schedule and new partnership with Virgin Australia will provide travelers with more frequent flights, easier connections, and broader route choices across Oceania, while supporting stronger economic and cultural links between China and Australia.
Reporter: Zeng Xiangxing
Photo: China Southern Airlines
Editor: Hu Nan, James Campion, Shen He
