China Southern to use Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner on Perth services; adding 4th weekly service & amending timings

8 February 2015 (UPDATED 9 March 2015) – Copyright © David Eyre

China Southern services between Guangzhou and Perth (flight CZ319/CZ320) will see the current Airbus A330-200 aircraft replaced by new Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners from 31 March 2015 (arriving in Perth on 1 April 2015).

The airline will also add a fourth weekly service, and is changing schedule timings to include morning and night arrivals and departures at Perth. Schedule will be as follows:

• Airbus A330-200 until 29 MAR 2015, Boeing 787 from 1 APR 2015.
• Until 12 JUL 2015: Wed/Fri/Sun: CZ319 arrives Perth at 0600 / CZ320 departs Perth at 0830.
  
• From 15 JUL 2015:
  • Tue & Fri: CZ319 arrives Perth 2150 / CZ320 departs Perth at 2330.
  • Thu & Sun: CZ319 arrives Perth at 0600 / CZ320 departs Perth at 0830.

The airline first commenced services to Perth on 9 November 2011 on the Guangzhou – Perth route, which operated three times per week on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday mornings.

Aircraft types used on the route have changed as follows (dates are arrival dates in Perth):

• Airbus A330-300 (9 November 2011 – 1 April 2013): 287 passengers (4 First Class, 24 Business Class, 48 Premium Economy, 211 Economy seats).
• Airbus A330-200 (3 April 2013 – March 2015): 218 passengers (4 First Class, 24 Business Class, 48 Premium Economy, 142 Economy seats).
• Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (1 April 2015 onwards): 228 passengers (4 First Class, 24 Business Class, 200 Economy).

WA provides about 70% of Australia’s exports to China. In 2011, when China Southern commenced services to Perth, China was ranked as the 12th largest source of international visitors for WA, but in 2014 China had risen to 6^th place (3^rd biggest in terms of money spent).

China Southern is the world’s 6th largest airline measured by passengers carried. It also operates to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

China Southern has had links to Western Australia since 1993, when it started the China Southern WA Flying College, with bases at Jandakot and Merredin.