GUANGZHOU, China— China Southern Airlines—the world’s 10th largest airline—has announced plans for an international expansion during 2007.

New air routes to eight Asian nations, including Cambodia, India, Japan, Laos, United Arab Emirates, Nigeria, and Angola are slated to open in 2007.

This announced of expansion comes on the heels of China Southern’s recent opening of new service from China to Lagos, Nigeria and Kathmandu, Nepal.

“As we race towards the end of China’s Eleventh Five-Year Plan, China Southern Airlines will continue to add more flight capacity to its home Guangzhou market,” said President of China Southern Airlines, Si Xian Min at a news conference. “We plan to add 68 new modern jet aircraft to the China Southern fleet by the end of 2007—with the goal of 440 aircraft.”

International routes slated for opening in 2007 include:
• Guangzhou-Dubai-Guangzhou
• Guangzhou-Luanda-Guangzhou
• Guangzhou-Sendai-Guangzhou
• Guangzhou-Sapporo-Guangzhou
• Guangzhou-Katmandu-Guangzhou
• Guangzhou-Delhi-Guangzhou
• Guangzhou-Siem Reap-Guangzhou
• Guangzhou-Phuket-Guangzhou
• Guangzhou-Yangon-Guangzhou
• Guangzhou-Vientiane-Guangzhou

As these 10 new routes are launched, international outbound routes from Guangzhou will nearly double from the current 18 to 26. Weekly international frequencies will increase from the current 136 to 182 flights—an increase of more than 30 percent.

By the end of February 2007, China Southern Airlines will operate 82 international and regional services. Guangzhou and Beijing will serve as its major airport hubs, with regional airports in Urumqi in China’s northeast and Shenyang in the northwest serving as an air network covering all of Asia, with connections to Africa, Australia, Europe, and the United States.