Brisbane, Australia — In a major leap for China–Australia air travel, China Southern Airlines has announced it will double its Guangzhou–Brisbane flights during the upcoming 2025/26 Southern Hemisphere summer season. This seasonal expansion promises to enhance connectivity and drive tourism, trade, and cultural exchange between Queensland and southern China.
Peak Season Expansion Details
China Southern’s schedule enhancements begin in mid-November 2025, ramping up to their highest ever frequency on this route since 2010. The timeline is as follows:
- 17 November – 14 December 2025: 10 flights per week
- 15 December 2025 – 22 February 2026: Up to 14 flights per week, effectively double daily service
- 23 February – 2 March 2026: Slight scale-back to 11 flights per week.
These additions amount to 85 extra services and roughly 53,000 additional seats between Guangzhou and Brisbane, offering travelers unprecedented choice and flexibility during the year’s busiest travel season.
Infusing Comfort with Modern Aircraft
The expanded schedule will be served by China Southern’s advanced Airbus A350-900 fleet. These aircraft offer a high standard of travel luxury, featuring:
- 28 lie-flat business class seats in a 1‑2‑1 configuration
- 24 premium economy seats in 2‑4‑2 layout
- 262 economy class seats arranged in 3‑3‑3 style
Strategic Significance for Queensland
This expansion comes at a strategic moment: it coincides with the 15th anniversary of China Southern’s service to Brisbane, highlighting sustained commitment to connectivity between these regions.
Gert-Jan de Graaff, CEO of Brisbane Airport, described the surge as akin to “adding an extra Suncorp Stadium’s worth of capacity” between China and Queensland over summer—an investment into tourism, trade, and economic resilience.
Jason Sun, the airline’s Regional General Manager, reaffirmed the importance of this service in enhancing access through its Guangzhou hub, enabling smooth one-stop connections to major Chinese cities and Asia-Pacific destinations.
Enhanced frequency and timings not only benefit leisure travelers but also support exports. Queensland producers—ranging from seafood to medical goods—stand to benefit from improved cargo flow to China, the state’s largest two-way trade partner.
Impacts on Tourism and Community
For Queensland’s tourism sector, the increase in inbound flights promises to drive visitor volumes, lift destination awareness, and support attractions and hospitality businesses—from city hotels to regional experiences.
Businesses across the state—hotels, restaurants, tour operators—are poised to tap into this boom, which builds on broader international travel recovery trends.
According to Tourism Australia and industry bodies, growing capacity from China is seen as critical to revitalizing Australia’s tourism post-pandemic.
Brisbane Airport: Preparing for Expansion
Brisbane Airport, currently Australia’s most connected domestic hub, is undergoing a A$5 billion Future BNE transformation. This includes enhanced security infrastructure and planning for a new Terminal 3—all designed to support growing international traffic and provide seamless traveler experience.
Broader Airline Network Initiatives
This expansion is part of a wider strategy by China Southern Airlines during the 2025/26 peak season. Additional frequencies will also be rolled out to other Australian cities, including:
- Adelaide: flights increased from 3 to 4 weekly
- Perth: 3 to 4 weekly via Boeing 787‑9
- Sydney: boosted to 4 daily flights on the same aircraft types.
These changes enhance not only passenger convenience but also freight and trade connections across the nation.
Conclusion: A New Chapter in China–Australia Ties
China Southern Airlines’ decision to double its Guangzhou–Brisbane flights this summer season marks a bold reaffirmation of its role in linking Queensland and southern China. The expansion delivers more than capacity—it symbolizes evolving economic ties, tourism resurgence, and a renewed blueprint for regional connectivity.
As Brisbane Airport evolves to accommodate this surge and tourism stakeholders ready for reinvigorated demand, Queensland is poised for a transformative summer that redefines its place in Asia-Pacific travel and trade networks.
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