China Southern launches new nonstop flights to New York JFK

China Southern Airlines recently launched its direct flights between Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. The new service became operational from August 6, 2014. This will be the airline’s first nonstop flights to New York JFK from Guangzhou.

Media reports said that the flights between Guangzhou and New York JFK will be the China Southern Airlines’ longest ever nonstop route. The distance between the two destinations will now be 12,905 km, which is presently over 1,200 km longer.

The flight between Los Angeles and Guangzhou was previously the airline’s longest route. The airline has been operating flights on Guangzhou-Los Angeles route ever since 1997. Now with the launch of service to New York JFK, the airline will offer services to two destinations in the United States. Apart from New York JFK and Los Angeles, the other North American destination is Vancouver where China Southern Airlines is operating its flights.

The airline will be operating the new Guangzhou-New York JFK route four times every week. The flights will be operated with the help of a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft configured with 309 seats. Media reports indicated that so far China Southern Airlines will not be facing any kind of competition on this route.

Andrew Cuomo, Governor of New York State, who recently unveiled “I Love NY” advertising campaign in China aimed at attracting leisure and business travelers, said that the launch of new Guangzhou-New York JFK route by Asia’s largest carrier from China’s one of largest cities has come at a time when both the New York State and New York City are bracing to grab a larger share of flourishing Chinese tourism market. He also said that the Chinese are presently the fastest growing overseas segment in the New York City, reporting a significant increase of 19 percent in 2013 alone.