China Southern Airlines and Air France to launch new Paris - Guangzhou service

China Southern Airlines and Air France are to offer a new service between Paris and Guangzhou.

China Southern Airlines has signed a code-share agreement with Air France on the new non-stop Guangzhou - Paris route, slated to open on 6 January 2004.

The new Guangzhou - Paris service will be the second European passenger gateway for China Southern Airlines as well as its' first new service ever launched via code-share arrangement.

China Southern currently offers Boeing 777 code-share passenger service between Amsterdam and numerous cities within China with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. This service recently expanded to include Boeing 747 cargo services between Europe and China.

“We will work together to enhance the mutual Sino-France cooperation and promote the friendship between the Chinese and French people. We firmly believe that our cooperation will be a rousing success,” said Mr. Li Kun, Vice President, China Southern Airlines.

This agreement with Air France also marks the second code-share agreement between China Southern Airlines and carriers belonging to the SkyTeam global airline alliance. China Southern currently offers four weekly non-stop 777 transpacific flights between its worldwide hub in Guangzhou and Los Angeles on a code-share basis with Delta Air Lines. 

China Southern Airlines will purchase a number of seats from Air France and begin to exchange seats equally with Air France after China Southern inaugurates its own air service between Guangzhou and Paris.

From 6 January to 13 June 2004, AF107/CZ783 will operate five times weekly from Guangzhou to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) International Airport, every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday.

Starting 14 June 2004, the service will be increased to a daily schedule. The flight will arrive in Paris at 17:25 local time at the brand new 2E Terminal at CDG International Airport.

Beginning 28 June 2004, China Southern Airlines will launch four weekly flights to further supplement the non-stop Sino-France service with a combined CZ/AF flight number.

“In this way, customers of both airlines will enjoy 11 weekly flights between Guangzhou and Paris,” added Mr. Kun.