Sydney Welcomes First Chinese A380 Flight Into Australia

The first China Southern A380 flight has been welcomed into Sydney. It is an important service for Australia-bound Chinese visitors who now surpass New Zealand visitor numbers to NSW.

“China Southern’s maiden flight into NSW marks a major milestone as the very first A380 to arrive from China into Australia,” NSW Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner said.

“China Southern’s single daily A380 air service is expected to generate 5,000 jobs and contribute approximately $390 million to the Australian economy in just one year.

“China has recently overtaken New Zealand as the number one source market for visitors and I welcome this extra service for Chinese passengers to get to Australia’s top tourism destination, Sydney.”

Mr Stoner welcomed Mr Si Xianmin, President of the China Southern Air Holding Company and Chairman of China Southern Airlines Company Limited, his colleagues, media and the passengers on-board the inaugural China Southern A380 flight to NSW.

“This flight is the first A380 from any China-based airline to arrive into Australia and I’m delighted China Southern scheduled this service to our Harbour City, the gateway to the Asia-Pacific region,” Mr Stoner said.

“NSW is Australia’s number one State for Chinese tourism, attracting 61.2 per cent of all Chinese tourists who visit the country.

China now ranks as the largest international contributor of visitor nights and expenditure in NSW. For the year ending June 2013, an 18 per cent increase saw 396,000 visitors to NSW from China, which contributed $1.3 billion to the State’s economy.

“This strong growth in Chinese visitors to NSW is proof the NSW Government’s China Tourism Strategy to increase visitor numbers from China is working.

“NSW’s vast range of visitor experiences are great drawcards for travellers from China, as are the many events on the Sydney and NSW Events Calendar such as Vivid Sydney held earlier this year, which saw 7,200 packages taken by visitors from China.”

Sandra Chipchase, CEO of Destination NSW, the Government’s tourism and major events agency, said visitors from China coming to NSW could expect to experience the best of Australia in one location.

“From pristine beaches to the Outback and rainforests, and from delicious seafood and wine delights to luxury shopping, NSW has it all.”

Photo L-R: Tourism Australia Chairman Geoff Dixon, Sydney Airport CEO Kerrie Mather, China Southern Chairman Si Xianmin, Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner and Chinese Consul General in AU Li Hua Xin.