China Southern Airlines confirmed on 21 December that its seasonal Perth–Guangzhou flights will convert to a year-round, non-stop service from April 2026. The carrier will operate three Boeing 787-9 rotations a week (Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays), providing approximately 85,800 annual seats and the only direct connection between Western Australia and mainland China.
Strategic importance: Western Australia counts China as its fourth-largest international visitor market; 65,000 Chinese travellers spent an estimated AUD 457 million in the state during FY 2025. Making the route permanent secures critical airlift for Perth’s mining, energy and education sectors, all of which depend on frequent executive travel to Guangdong’s manufacturing hub and beyond via China Southern’s 200-plus-city domestic network.
Trade and cargo: The announcement follows a Sister-Airport memorandum signed this month between Perth Airport and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, which will see joint marketing of belly-hold freight capacity. This is expected to benefit West Australian agricultural exporters—particularly premium seafood and fresh produce—seeking faster access to South China’s consumer markets.
![China Southern Makes Perth–Guangzhou Link Permanent, Adding 85,800 Seats a Year]()
For travellers and companies working the new corridor, obtaining the correct documentation will be essential. VisaHQ’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/china/) lets Australian passport holders and foreign residents review current Chinese visa requirements, upload forms and arrange courier-assisted processing without queuing at the consulate—an efficient add-on for Perth executives and students who plan to take advantage of the expanded CZ schedule.
Competitive landscape: Prior to the pandemic only one Chinese mainland carrier served Perth. China Southern’s move pre-empts potential expansion by Hainan Airlines and Xiamen Air, and gives the airline a first-mover advantage as bilateral capacity talks between Canberra and Beijing resume. Travel agents report that the airline is already bundling through-fares to Europe via Guangzhou to undercut Middle-Eastern rivals.
Practical considerations for corporates: Companies with FIFO (fly-in fly-out) operations in mining should update travel policies to include PVG–PER and CZ codeshares; the overnight westbound timing allows same-day connections from 30 Chinese cities. Travellers can also leverage the 24-hour visa-free transit at Guangzhou for onward flights within China.
Strategic importance: Western Australia counts China as its fourth-largest international visitor market; 65,000 Chinese travellers spent an estimated AUD 457 million in the state during FY 2025. Making the route permanent secures critical airlift for Perth’s mining, energy and education sectors, all of which depend on frequent executive travel to Guangdong’s manufacturing hub and beyond via China Southern’s 200-plus-city domestic network.
Trade and cargo: The announcement follows a Sister-Airport memorandum signed this month between Perth Airport and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, which will see joint marketing of belly-hold freight capacity. This is expected to benefit West Australian agricultural exporters—particularly premium seafood and fresh produce—seeking faster access to South China’s consumer markets.
For travellers and companies working the new corridor, obtaining the correct documentation will be essential. VisaHQ’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/china/) lets Australian passport holders and foreign residents review current Chinese visa requirements, upload forms and arrange courier-assisted processing without queuing at the consulate—an efficient add-on for Perth executives and students who plan to take advantage of the expanded CZ schedule.
Competitive landscape: Prior to the pandemic only one Chinese mainland carrier served Perth. China Southern’s move pre-empts potential expansion by Hainan Airlines and Xiamen Air, and gives the airline a first-mover advantage as bilateral capacity talks between Canberra and Beijing resume. Travel agents report that the airline is already bundling through-fares to Europe via Guangzhou to undercut Middle-Eastern rivals.
Practical considerations for corporates: Companies with FIFO (fly-in fly-out) operations in mining should update travel policies to include PVG–PER and CZ codeshares; the overnight westbound timing allows same-day connections from 30 Chinese cities. Travellers can also leverage the 24-hour visa-free transit at Guangzhou for onward flights within China.
