China Southern Airlines will return to Christchurch in October for an expanded season of its direct service between Christchurch Airport and the international hub of Guangzhou.

China’s largest carrier will fly to Christchurch five times a week for five months from the end of October, which is a 52% increase in capacity on the past summer.

Christchurch Airport General Manager of Aeronautical Development, Gordon Beavan, says the airline and airport have committed to working more closely together.

“We know China’s high value passengers – and those who come from further afield on this direct service – want to experience all the South Island of New Zealand has to offer.

“We recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding on our aligned goals, which include further building the attraction of the South Island in the shoulder seasons. One of the aims of this work is to meet increasing interest from China’s travellers to ski here and we hope China Southern will be flying here year-round before much longer,” he says.

As well as tourism, the MOU also focuses on growing the education, food safety and high value cargo services between the airline and airport.