China Southern Airlines

Founding

China Southern Airlines was established on July 1, 1988, as part of the Chinese government's initiative to decentralize the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), and liberalize the Chinese aviation market.[7] This restructuring aimed to transform CAAC's regional divisions into independent commercial entities. China Southern emerged from the former Guangzhou Regional Administration of CAAC, marking its inception as a separate airline. However, the airline's first commercial operations under its own name and livery didn't launch until February 1991.[8]

The airline completed its decentralization from CAAC when it gained independence on 10 October 1993.[9] During the airline's early years, the carrier was the dominant domestic carrier. Together with the two major airlines of China – Air China and China Eastern – the airline handled half of the passenger traffic carried by all Chinese carriers. Owing to Air China's status as the country's flag carrier, the airline is entitled to extensive international service rights, with China Eastern and China Southern's international networks confined to mainly East Asia and within Asia, respectively. Like other Chinese carriers, China Southern was subjected to CAAC's exclusive right to grant route-specific operating licenses and domestic prices.[10]

Expansion

To raise its operating standards and distance itself from mostly unprofitable second and third-tier domestic airlines, the carrier signed agreements with several foreign carriers regarding staff training and aircraft maintenance, with the ultimate aim of being listed on the New York Stock Exchange, possibly as soon as early 1995.[11]

Starting in the mid-1990s, China Southern sought to expand its international reach beyond Asia. In December 1995, the Chinese and United States governments signed an aviation agreement that would allow the commencement of non-stop air services between the two countries.[12] After having been granted the right to establish services to Amsterdam in early 1996, the airline started Guangzhou–Beijing–Amsterdam, its first long-haul route, in November 1996. The following year, the carrier commenced non-stop trans-Pacific services to Los Angeles, as well as services to Brisbane.[13]

The start of European and American services coincided with the arrival of the long-range Boeing 777s, the first of which was delivered in late December 1995, as well as a general expansion and upgrade of the carrier's fleet and the associated facilities. Due to engine certification and labor relations issues, the delivery of the first Boeing 777 was more than a month behind schedule. As a result, the carrier considered, but ultimately decided against, leasing the Boeing 747-400, which would have been used to cover anticipated delays as well as to launch trans-Pacific services to the United States.[14][15][16][17] Nevertheless, the airline planned to double its fleet of 67 aircraft. In April 1996, the Chinese government placed an order, on China Southern's behalf, for 10 Airbus A320s; the delivery of the first aircraft, and China Southern's first Airbus, was made the following year.[18][19] Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Company, which was jointly established with Lockheed Aircraft Services International and Hutchinson Whampoa, was carrying out expansion of its aircraft maintenance facilities in anticipation of the increase.[20]

In July 1997, China Southern Airlines went public, listing on both the Hong Kong and New York Stock Exchanges. The airline raised $600–$700 million, which was mainly used to expand its fleet, pay off debt, and invest in other key areas.[21] In 2003, China Southern Airlines listed domestically on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.[22] By 1997, the airline, along with its joint-venture airlines Xiamen Airlines, Shantou Airlines and Guangxi Airlines, was carrying some 15 million passengers per year using about 90 aircraft, operating about 270 routes among 68 destinations and almost 2,450 flights per week. The airline group's revenue totaled some US$1.4 billion with a net income of $90 million.[23][24]

Mergers and acquisitions

The end of the 1990s was a period of consolidation for the Chinese airline industry. Initially, China Southern looked to acquire several smaller non-profitable domestic carriers as it sought to highlight its expansion plans intoaise funds; among the deals was the purchase of 60% shares of Guizhou Airlines.[25][26] Due to the weakening economy amidst the 1997 Asian financial crisis and intense competition among the some 30 Chinese carriers, in 1998, CAAC considered a comprehensive restructuring of the industry that would see the consolidation of the airlines into three or five carrier groups.[27] At one stage, it was reported that CAAC was contemplating a forced merger of Air China and China Southern. Given the latter's dual listing in Hong Kong and New York, it was thought that such a merger would have eased Air China's path towardits own share offering. China Southern confirmed that such talks between them were occurring, although they ultimately proved fruitless. Had the merger proceeded, their combined fleets would have numbered some 250 aircraft, which would have made the resultant airline the largest in Asia.[28][29][30]

Although there was considerable resistance to CAAC's call to rationalise the industry, in July 2000, the administrative body announced that the 10 airlines under its direct management will be merged into three airline groups, revolving around Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and China Southern itself.[31] Within a month, China Southern had started absorbing Zhengzhou-based Zhongyuan Airlines, which at the time operated five Boeing 737s and two Xian Y-7 turboprops.[32] The carrier would later merge with Shenyang-based China Northern Airlines and Urumqi-based Xinjiang Airlines to form China Southern Air Holding Co., a process that took more than two years and would culminate in China Southern's acquisition of their US$2 billion's worth of assets (as well as $1.8 billion of debt) in November 2004. Consequently, China Southern's fleet expanded from some 140 aircraft to over 210. The takeovers meant that the carrier became the main airline in Shenyang and Ürümqi, with passenger numbersjumping from 28.2 million in 2004 to 44.1 million in 2005.[33] As a result, China Southern Airlines became one of the "Big Three" carriers in the country. Since then, it has successively taken over shareholding stocks and joined the equity in numerous Chinese carriers. The airline is the major shareholder of Xiamen Airlines (55%) and Chongqing Airlines (60%); it also invests in Sichuan Airlines (39%).[34]

Amidst the major consolidation of the airline industry, China Southern in April 2000 started dedicated cargo services from Shenzhen using a Boeing 747-200F (which was quickly upgraded to the Boeing 747-400F) wet-leased from Atlas Air. To capitalize on the economic growth of the Pearl River Delta region (which includes Hong Kong), the carrier constructed a dedicated cargo center in Shenzhen.[35] Successful operations prompted an order for two Boeing 747-400Fs the following year.[36] The airline by now had commenced operations to Sydney and Melbourne.[37]

In September 2003, China Southern signed a purchase agreement for four Airbus A330-200s to be delivered in 2005. This was part of the order placed in April by the China Aviation Supplies Imp. & Exp. Group covering 30 aircraft.[38] China Southern became the first mainland Chinese A330 operator with the delivery of the first example in February 2005.[39] China Southern followed up in September 2005 with a further order for eight A330-300s and two A330-200s.[40]

The month of January 2005 proved to be significant for civil aviation in China in general and China Southern in particular. In preparation for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China Southern, and the Chinese government placed several landmark widebody-aircraft orders from Airbus and Boeing. More specifically, on 28 January 2005, the carrier became the first (and so far the only) Chinese carrier to commit to the Airbus A380 double-deck aircraft, when it signed a general-terms agreement for five examples worth US$1.4 billion at catalog prices.[41][42] On the same day, China Southern, along with five other domestic carriers, placed a bulk order for 60 Boeing 7E7s (later renamed the Boeing 787 Dreamliner). The aircraft was worth $7.2 billion at list prices, and the first example was expected to be delivered in time for the Olympics;[43] however, the first aircraft did not arrive until June 2013.[44]

Earlier during the month, the CAAC had approved the temporary operations of charter flights between mainland China and Taiwan. On the same day as the widebody orders, a China Southern Airlines Boeing 777–200 took off from Guangzhou and landed in Taipei the following day, becoming the first mainland Chinese aircraft to land in the Republic of China since 1949, when the Kuomintang were involved in Chinese Civil War with the Chinese Communist Party. The flight carried 242 passengers home after the Chinese New Year. Previously, passengers traveling between the mainland and Taiwan had to transit through a third port such as Hong Kong or Macau.[45][46] Within three years, in July 2008, a China Southern Airlines Airbus A330 carrying 230 tourists[47] again landed in Taipei.[48] The governments of China and Taiwan had both agreed to allow direct flights across the Taiwan Strait in June, ending six decades of limited air travel between the two sides. Following the flight, China Southern Airlines Chairman and pilot of the flight, Liu Shaoyong, said, "From today onward, regular commercial flights will replace the rumbling warplanes over the skies of the Taiwan Strait, and relations between the two sides will become better and better."[47][48]

Following two years of negotiations which had started in August 2004, in late June 2006, China Southern signed an agreement with SkyTeam, one of the three global airline alliances, formally pledging itself to the improvement of standards with the aim of its eventual joining. According to the agreement, the airline committed to the upgrade of handling services, facilities, and training of at least 75% of its staff to SkyTeam's standards.[49][50] On 15 November 2007, China Southern officially joined SkyTeam, becoming the eleventh carrier to join the grouping and the first mainland Chinese carrier to join an airline alliance. The welcoming ceremony was attended by high-ranking Chinese government and SkyTeam corporate officials and was held at the Great Hall of the People.[51] The carrier's integration with the alliance continued with its entry into SkyTeam Cargo in November 2010,[52] and its joint-venture carrier Xiamen Airlines' formal joining in November 2012. With China Eastern's ascension in June 2011, SkyTeam furthered its leading presence on the mainland Chinese market; the remaining Big Three carrier, Air China, is a member of Star Alliance.[53][54]

It followed up with another Airbus order on 7 July 2006, when it confirmed a deal covering the purchase of 50 more A320 narrow bodies for delivery in 2009.[55] The order included 13 A319-100s, 20 A320-200s and 17 A321-200s, reportedly worth $3.3 billion at list prices.[56] In December 2005, China Southern Airlines along with CASGC, announced an order with Boeing for 9 Boeing 737-700s and 11 Boeing 737-800s.

In June 2006, China Southern Airlines confirmed another order of three Boeing 737-700s and seven Boeing 737-800s. The deliveries would continue through 2010.[57] On 18 October 2006, China Southern Airlines placed an order for six Boeing 777 freighters, striding forward a brand new step in its cargo development.[58] The aircraft would be delivered from November 2008 to July 2010.

On 20 August 2007, China Southern Airlines announced its intention for an order of 25 Boeing 737-700s and 30 Boeing 737-800s, which will be delivered from May 2011 to October 2013.[59] It was a mere two months before, on 23 October 2007, China Southern Airlines announced that it had placed an order for 10 additional Airbus A330-200s. The order has a listed price of US$1.677 billion and the aircraft will be delivered from March 2010 to August 2012.[60]

Recent developments

During 2009, China Southern Airlines remodeled its strategy from a point-to-point hub to a full hub and spoke carrier, which has been proven successful. Along with that, the airline has rapidly expanded its international market share, particularly in Australia, where passenger numbers in 2011 have been 97% greater than in 2010.[61]

On 21 January 2010, China Southern Airlines announced an order for an additional 20 A320-200s, scheduled for delivery in 2011, due to the falling fuel costs and surging passenger demand.[62] In March 2010, the Chinese carrier issued new shares in Hong Kong and Shanghai 2010 to raise 10.75 billion yuan ($1.57 billion) in a bid to pay off outstanding loans.[63] In December, CNY810 million ($121.5 million) was injected by China Southern Airlines into its subsidiary Xiamen Airlines to fund its fleet expansion.[64] In November 2010, China Southern Airlines signed an agreement with Airbus for the purchase of 6 A330s and 30 A320–200s.[65]

On 11 January 2011, China Southern Airlines announced a lease for 10 Embraer E190 aircraft, set to be delivered from the second half of 2011. On 27 January 2011, China Southern Airlines was awarded a four-star ranking by Skytrax. It is the largest airline to hold this title.[66] On 17 October 2011, China Southern Airlines made its first flight with the Airbus A380. Initially, the airline deployed the A380s on domestic routes, flying between Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. At the same time, the carrier conducted negotiations to commence A380 international services. Due to the government-imposed limitation that confined an international route to a single airline, China Southern in August 2012 announced its intention to initiate Beijing-Paris services in cooperation with Air China, pending government approval. Two months later, the A380 was deployed on Guangzhou-Los Angeles services.[67] Early A380 operations were unprofitable and the aircraft, underutilised; services to Sydney were thus launched in October 2013.[68] By May 2013, talks with Air China on Beijing-Paris services had ceased.[69]

While China Southern, like the other two of the big three Chinese carriers, Air China and China Eastern Airlines,[70] had been expanding rapidly since 2000, much of their activities had been focused on the domestic market.[71] With the increase in outflow of Chinese tourists, who in 2012, for example, spent $102 billion internationally,[72] as well as the rapid construction and introduction of high-speed rail in China, the carrier shifted its outlook overseas to sustain growth.[71] Owing to the location of its hub at Guangzhou, which hinders the airline from effectively serving the North American market, the airline concentrated its international expansion on Australasia. In June 2012, with the inauguration of services from Guangzhou to London-Heathrow, the airline started marketing its services connecting Europe and Australia as the "Canton Route",[73][74] an alternative to the Kangaroo Route flown by carriers such as Qantas. It hoped to attract the predominantly business traffic that travel between Europe and Australia, and channel such sixth-freedom traffic as well as traffic from mainland China through its Guangzhou hub (thereby transforming the carrier's network from one that emphasises point-to-point to a hub-and-spoke system).[75][76] The carrier by now had added cities such as Auckland, Istanbul, Perth, and Vancouver to its route map.[73][77][78]

During May–June 2012, China Southern Airlines has recruited Dutch flight attendants to serve the First and Business class sections for flights from Guangzhou to Amsterdam.[79]

On 7 June 2013, China Southern operated its first Boeing 787 on a route from Guangzhou to Beijing Capital, the first Chinese airline to introduce the 787-8.[80] The 787s were going to be part of China Southern's fleet for only a dozen years: in November 2024, the airline announced its intention to sell all 10 aircraft of the type by 2026 due to challenges in recovering long-haul services following the COVID-19 pandemic.[81]

In early 2015, it was announced that the airline would lease 24 Airbus A320neo aircraft from AerCap for delivery between 2016 and 2019.[82]

On 15 November 2018, the airline announced that it would leave SkyTeam by 1 January 2019 and will strengthen its partnership with American Airlines and others.[83] The announcement lead to speculation that it will join Oneworld alongside Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific. Various media outlets reported that while analysts predict that its Oneworld move could threaten Cathay Pacific's position in the alliance, other analysts state that China Southern joining Oneworld would benefit Cathay more due to different target markets.[84]

In March 2019, the airline announced a frequent flyer partnership with American Airlines.[85] Currently, the airline plans for more flexible tie-ups with other carriers, mostly with Oneworld members such as Qatar Airways while not joining the alliance 'for a few years' in order to fulfill its dream as 'world's largest airline'.[86] On 26 September 2019, China Southern operates at Beijing Daxing International Airport alongside its former and current partners, and all of its flights to and from Beijing are transferred to Daxing on 25 October 2020.

China Southern operated its last commercial Airbus A380 flight on 5 November 2022, remaining the only Chinese airline ever to operate the A380. The aircraft were retired due to market challenges following the COVID-19 pandemic, the last two being flown to storage at Mojave Air and Space Port in December 2022. One former China Southern A380 was acquired by Global Airlines in 2024 with plans to launch flights between the United Kingdom and the United States using this aircraft in 2025.[87]

In early January 2025, China Southern Airlines suspend its daily service between Beijing Daxing and Moscow Sheremetyevo from 20 January to 30 March 2025. No reason was given by the airline. However, experts commented it may be due to the on-going conflict between Russia and Ukraine.[88]

Business trends

The key trends for the China Southern Airlines Group are (as of the financial year ending December 31):[89]

Ownership structure

Cooperation with American Airlines

American Airlines invested $200 million in China Southern Airlines in March 2017, laying a strong foundation for a long-term relationship between two of the world's largest airlines. After the investment, American Airlines holds a 2.7% equity stake in China Southern Airlines.[104] American Airlines and China Southern are two of the world's largest airlines with complementary networks, offering customers unparalleled destinations in both the business and leisure traveler markets. The two airlines have signed codeshare and interline agreements to provide travelers with flights to more destinations in China, North and South America. The codeshare route partnership includes the ability to earn and redeem AAdvantage miles, check baggage through, and book tickets.[105]

Head office

China Southern is headquartered in the China Southern Air Building at 68 Qixin Road (齐心路) in Baiyun District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province.[106]

It was previously at 278 Jichang (Airport) Road (机场路) in Baiyun District.[107][108][109]

China Southern had plans to open a new headquarters facility on a 988 acre site on the outskirts of Guangzhou, about 4 mi from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. Woods Bagot won a competition for the architect firm which would design the facility. The proposed site consists of two parcels of land on opposite sides of a highway leading to Baiyun Airport; both sites are shaped like wings. The site will have a bridge and light rail system that operates above the highway to connect the two parcels, which will each have distinct functions. For instance, the east parcel will house internal functions such as the data center facilities, staff dormitories, and the training center. The airline wants it to be aesthetically pleasing from the air since it sits below a runway approach. The site will have a lot of outdoor space, which Woods Bagot designed along with Hargreaves Associates and Sherwood Design Engineers. Jean Weng, a Woods Bagot Beijing-based principal, said "Most Chinese cities are very dense and very urban, but China Southern wants to create a human-scale campus, that's close to nature."[110] The new headquarters was opened in August 2016.

Cargo

China Southern Cargo is the cargo subsidiary of China Southern Airlines. The cargo airline provides services between mainland China and worldwide cities including Amsterdam, Vienna, Frankfurt, Los Angeles, Chicago,[111] Glasgow,[112] and London Stansted served from its main hubs of Guangzhou Baiyun and Shanghai Pudong.

The cargo subsidiary joined the SkyTeam Cargo alliance in November 2010 and withdrew on 1 January 2019 following the airline's withdrawal from SkyTeam.[113]

General Aviation

China Southern Airlines General Aviation (CSAGA) is the helicopter division of China Southern Airlines. Established in 1980 as Zhuhai Helicopter Company, the division was rebranded to China Southern Airlines General Aviation in 2003.[114] The company currently operates out of 13 bases.[115] Currently, it operates passenger, charter, rescue, aerial photography and other inspection flights.[114]

Overview

China Southern Airlines serves 193 destinations in 35 countries worldwide.[116] It maintains a strong presence in the domestic market with its main hubs at Beijing Daxing International Airport and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport with secondary hubs at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport, Ürümqi Diwopu International Airport, and Wuhan Tianhe International Airport, along with other focus cities in Changchun, Changsha, Dalian, Shenyang, Shenzhen, and Zhengzhou. The airline plans to continue to develop Chongqing and Ürümqi as hubs as well as to exploit the domestic market potential.[117]

China Southern offers 485 flights a day from its Guangzhou hub and 221 from its Beijing hub.[61] The airline provides services to 65 international destinations. Most of the international flights link Guangzhou with world cities. There are also plenty of international flights operated through Beijing, Shanghai, Ürümqi (notably to Central Asia and Middle-East) and Dalian (to Japan, South Korea, and Russia). China Southern Airlines has developed an extensive network in Southeast Asia and also has become the Chinese airline with the largest presence in Australia.[118] China Southern is also considering expanding into the South American markets, as well as further expansion into the African market.[74]

On 12 December 2024, it was reported that China Southern has resumed the direct routes between Guangzhou and Adelaide, South Australia. The route was initially launched in 2016, but ceased in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[119]

Alliance

On 28 August 2004, China Southern Airlines signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the airline alliance SkyTeam. On 15 November 2007, the airline was officially welcomed as the 11th member of SkyTeam, becoming the first mainland Chinese airline to join any global airline alliance,[120] expanding the alliance's presence on mainland China.

On 24 December 2018, China Southern Airlines released an official statement saying that it would discontinue its SkyTeam membership on 1 January 2019 and will also terminate its partnership with China Eastern Airlines and Delta Air Lines.[121]

Codeshare agreements

China Southern Airlines codeshares with the following airlines:[122][123]

• Aeroflot[124][125]
• Aerolíneas Argentinas
• Air France (joint venture partner)[126]
• Air Serbia[127]
• American Airlines
• British Airways[128]
• Chengdu Airlines[129]
• China Airlines
• China Express Airlines
• Donghai Airlines[129]
• Emirates[130]
• Etihad Airways
• Finnair[131]
• Garuda Indonesia
• Hebei Airlines[129]
• Iberia
• Japan Airlines
• Kenya Airways
• KLM (joint venture partner)[126]
• Korean Air
• LATAM Airlines
• Loong Air[129]
• Malaysia Airlines[132]
• Mandarin Airlines[129]
• Pakistan International Airlines
• Qantas
• Qatar Airways
• Qingdao Airlines[129]
• Saudia[133]
• Sichuan Airlines[134]
• Vietnam Airlines
• WestJet
• XiamenAir (subsidiary)

Interline Agreements

• My Freighter Airlines[135]

Current fleet

As of December 2025, China Southern Airlines operates the following aircraft:[136][137]

Former fleet

China Southern Airlines previously operated the following aircraft:

Airbus A380

China Southern was the only mainland Chinese airline to operate the Airbus A380. The airline initially operated these aircraft on Beijing–Hong Kong and Beijing–Guangzhou routes. However, these services struggled to be profitable. Due to the demand limitation of the airline's home base at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, few routes from Guangzhou have the demand to support an A380. In efforts to make its A380s viable, China Southern started operating A380 on its Guangzhou–Los Angeles route and on the Guangzhou–Sydney route. Additionally, China Southern flew A380s to Sydney and Melbourne every summer during its peak travel period. As of 20 June 2015, China Southern began operating the Airbus A380 from Beijing to Amsterdam. The A380 also operated four domestic flights each day between Beijing and Guangzhou. The airline's A380s were retired by November 2022.

Special liveries gallery

Shipping of primates to laboratories

The USDA ordered China Southern Airlines to pay $11,600 in fines for violations of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) during the airline's transport of animals without proper licences to the United States. Although the USDA cited Air Transport International for failure to provide food and water to the imported animals, China Southern Airlines was previously also ordered to pay $14,438 for AWA violations during one transport that left more than a dozen monkeys dead after they went without food and water for an extended period of time. Following these most recent violations, where the delivered animals were left neglected after arrival in the US, China Southern announced that it would no longer transport laboratory animals to the US. PETA had protested against the airline for these shipments.[176][177]

10-yuan ticketing glitch

In November 2023, the airline inadvertently priced its tickets as low as 10 yuan (around $1.37) on its mobile app and travel websites like Trip.com, due to a technical glitch.[178] The airline later confirmed on Weibo that the tickets sold during the two-hour window would be honored.[179]