China Southern Airlines expands capacity on New Zealand route

China Southern Airlines is to increase capacity on its service between Auckland and the southern China city of Guangzhou, the carrier and Auckland Airport announced Tuesday.

The airlines would replace the Boeing 787 Dreamliner with a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft on its night flight from Auckland to Guangzhou from January to March 2015.

Auckland Airport general manager aeronautical commercial Norris Carter said the bigger aircraft would provide an additional 14,000 seats on the route during the peak period.

"This announcement from China Southern Airlines is fantastic news and will provide additional capacity over the 2015 Chinese New Year peak travel period," Carter said in a statement.

Last month China Southern Airlines increased its services on the route from 10 to 14 flights per week for the October to March peak summer period, and the bigger aircraft reflected continual growth and commitment to the New Zealand market, China Southern Airlines General Manager in New Zealand Mike Ma said in the statement.

The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft would operate on the night flight from Jan. 1 to March 29 next year, while the morning flight would continue to be operated by the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.