JUNE 10TH, 2011

China Southern Airlines celebrates opening of Amsterdam route

Amsterdam, the Netherlands – China Southern Airlines – a member of SkyTeam and the largest airline in The People’s Republic of China – celebrated Wednesday, 08 June, the inauguration of the three-times-weekly direct air service between Amsterdam and Guangzhou.

On 07 June at 23:55, a wide-bodied Airbus A330-200 with the China Southern kapok flower logo departed at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, to arrive the next morning at Schiphol International Airport in the Netherlands. A welcoming water salute upon arrival marked the success of this first non-stop inaugural flight, and China Southern Airlines’ second direct international route between the hub of Guangzhou and Amsterdam.

Guangzhou-Amsterdam is the second long-haul intercontinental route launched by China Southern in 2011 after the Guangzhou-Auckland inaugural flight in April. In 1996, China Southern started to operate the Guangzhou – Beijing – Amsterdam route and has achieved good social and economic benefits. Currently there are 7 CZ flights per week on this route. The new service between Guangzhou and Amsterdam will be flying 3 times per week, with flight numbers CZ308 / 307. Therefore in total there are 10 weekly flights operated by China Southern Airlines from Guangzhou hub to the Netherlands. This flight will be jointly operated together with China Southern’s SkyTeam partner KLM.

The inaugural Amsterdam – Guangzhou CZ 308 flight with planned departure time 13.20 hrs. was wished a successful journey with a festive ribbon-cutting ceremony at the departure gate. Executive Vice President COO of China Southern Airlines, Mr. Zhang Zifang, who himself arrived on the first direct Guangzhou – Amsterdam flight that same morning, expressed this gratitude for the warm welcome at Schiphol Airport, and expressed his confidence that “the implementation of this new nonstop flight service between Guangzhou and Amsterdam will surely strengthen ties between China and the Netherlands, as well as stimulating the economic and trade co-operations between Southern China and Europe.”

Also Mr. Jos Nijhuis, President & CEO of Schiphol Group, welcomed China Southern Airlines’ new flight service by agreeing with Mr. Zhang that “With this direct service two major hub airports will be connected to each other directly, and it will strengthen the strong economic relations between both our countries”

In the evening, a celebration banquet was hosted by China Southern at the InterContinental Amstel hotel in Amsterdam, welcoming distinguished guests & dignitaries from various fields such as the Dutch government, aviation and tourism industries. Presented by Mr. Han Wensheng, Vice Director General, Commercial Steering Committee of China Southern Airlines, who welcomed various speakers on stage, among which: Mr. Zhang Zifang, EVP & COO of China Southern Airlines, Mr. Zhang Jun, Chinese Ambassador to the Netherlands, Mr. Ad Rutten, EVP & COO of Schiphol Group, Mr. Peter Hartman, CEO & President of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Mr. Michael Wisbrun, Managing Director SkyTeam Airline Alliance and Mr. Eberhard van der Laan, Mayor of Amsterdam.

Mr. Zhang Zifang opened the celebration banquet by stating that China Southern Airlines is accelerating its pace in reinventing itself to become a world top international network-oriented airline. Anchored with its Guangzhou and Beijing central hubs, China Southern has been increasing flight frequencies on its new routes and launching new destinations with good market potential.

Friendship, bilateral relationships and strong partnerships were points of focus of the evening. The Chinese Ambassador to the Netherlands, Mr Zhang Jun stated that the Sino-Dutch relationship is currently in the best period in history. “Only through contacts of the two peoples can China and the Netherlands increase understanding and mutual trust. China Southern Airlines and KLM both shoulder great responsibility in this respect. I hope that the new flight can bring closer the distance between the two peoples, and hence promote further the bilateral relationship.”

Mr. Michael Wisbrun, Managing Director SkyTeam Airline Alliance, stressed the importance of partnerships, mentioning that China Southern as a dedicated SkyTeam partner, laid a strong foundation for the huge route network the alliance offers today within China, Asia and the Pacific.

Mr. Eberhard van der Laan, Mayor of Amsterdam, was pleased to have the opportunity to meet with KLM’s strong and reliable partner, and thanked China Southern Airlines for choosing Amsterdam as their main European hub, stressing that “Amsterdam now has more direct flight connections with different Chinese cities than any other city in Europe. This is something to be proud of.” Furthermore he stated that “I have learned that in China all successful business is based on friendship. I believe the same thing is true in the Netherlands and especially in Amsterdam.”, hence offering his friendship and that of the City of Amsterdam and its people.