In service of China’s national diplomatic strategy, China Southern Airlines has inaugurated the first regular flight route to Papua New Guinea.
SUMMARY
- Port Moresby is the largest city in Papua New Guinea and has joined China’s One Belt and One Road Initiative.
- Passengers can easily connect to and from Port Moresby from major cities in China and other destinations in the South Pacific.
- The Guangzhou to Port Moresby flight route, launched by China Southern Airlines, was the first regular commercial flight from mainland China to Papua New Guinea.
On December 20, 2023, at 9.29am local time, China Southern Airlines Flight CZ5055, carrying more than 130 passengers, landed at Port Moresby International Airport (POM) in Papua New Guinea after a six-hour and 10-minute flight. This marks the official launch of the new direct flight route from Guangzhou to Port Moresby by China Southern Airlines.
This route is the first regular commercial flight from mainland China to the South Pacific island nation. Papua New Guinea was the first South Pacific island nation to join China’s core diplomatic strategy: The One Belt and One Road Initiative. Port Moresby is the largest city in Papua New Guinea and is the national political, economic, and cultural centre.
According to the information released by China Southern Airlines, the airline will operate the route using Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, with one flight per week. To meet the demand of local Chinese expatriates for returning home during the Christmas holidays, the inaugural flight was operated using Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
Inaugural flight ceremony
On the evening of December 19th, the inaugural flight ceremony for the Guangzhou to Port Moresby route took place at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN).
At the aircraft door, flight attendants dressed in distinctive red cheongsam, holding welcome boards, greeted the inaugural passengers with smiles as they boarded. China Southern Airlines decorated the cabin of the inaugural flight predominantly in Chinese red.
The captain of the inaugural flight, Chen Zhenlei, who is also the manager of the Boeing 787 fleet for China Southern Airlines Flight Operations Division, addressed the passengers through the captain’s announcement: “Welcome, passengers, aboard the CZ5055 inaugural flight from Guangzhou to the capital of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby. China Southern Airlines is honored to serve as an aerial bridge, promoting exchanges and cooperation between China and Papua New Guinea, and facilitating friendly interactions between the two nations.”
Passengers traveling to and from Port Moresby from major mainland Chinese cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Nanjing can achieve seamless two-way connections with three hours at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. For passengers traveling to and from Port Moresby from cities like Xiamen and Fuzhou, the two-way connections can be realised within five hours.
After arriving in Port Moresby, passengers can also conveniently connect to domestic flights within Papua New Guinea, as well as flights to the Solomon Islands, Fiji, and other destinations operated by local airlines.
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