China Southern explores direct route to NZ's South Island

New Zealand's South Island will take its first step in opening directly to Chinese visitors next year when China Southern Airlines flies the first commercially operated 787 Dreamliner into Christchurch.

The service from Guangzhou to New Zealand's second city would be part of a one-off charter program for the Chinese New Year in February, and it could lead to a regular scheduled service, Christchurch Airport CEO Jim Boult said in a statement.

"This charter flight will be the first Dreamliner to fly to Christchurch commercially, the first Chinese airline to fly to New Zealand's second largest city and the first China Southern charter flight to the South Island," said Boult.

"We are seeing tourism from China continuing to grow, with Chinese visitor arrivals into Christchurch up 42 percent in October. The charter flight will prove the opportunity for scheduled flights and a direct service that will also appeal to exporters and importers."

General manager New Zealand for China Southern Airlines Mike Ma said in the statement the airline was confident the 228 seats on the charter flight would be keenly sought after.

The flight would leave Guangzhou at 3 p.m. on Feb. 2 and arrive in Christchurch at 7:30 a.m. on Feb. 3, departing again at 10 a.m. the same day.

China Southern Airlines launched a scheduled service flying 787 Dreamliners between Guangzhou and Auckland, in the North Island, last month.