China Southern boosts flights to Australia

China Southern will this month increase its flights to Sydney and Melbourne from 10 a week to 24, adding Brisbane to its schedule starting at the beginning of next month.
The capacity increase comes after China Southern struck a strategic business development and marketing deal with Tourism Australia and will focus on developing outbound as well as inbound markets.
Sydney and Melbourne airports last month identified China as a major driver of international traffic growth.
Melbourne reported a 58% increase in Chinese passport-holders compared with August last year, and Sydney figures are up 52%.
eTravel Blackboard reports that in Melbourne, the number of Chinese passengers outstripped visitors from Britain for the first time, and airport managers said they were preparing for further growth as Chinese carriers boost capacity.