London was the first destination chosen by China Southern Airlines Co Ltd to operate its new Boeing 787 planes, indicating the United Kingdom market's importance for the airline.

The new planes will fly non-stop between London's Heathrow Airport and Guangzhou's Baiyun International Airport.

"We value this route highly. Not only is it important for our Guangzhou customers, it's also used frequently by customers traveling to Oceania with connecting flights in Guangzhou," said Hu Wei, chief pilot of China Southern's 787 planes.

He added that the carrier ordered 10 new 787 planes from Boeing. The planes already went through a brief trial on China Southern's domestic routes to familiarize the pilots with the aircraft, before being assigned to international flights.

Hu said that about 60 percent of the passengers traveling on the London-Guangzhou route will then transfer to connecting flights, so it's the carrier's ambition to make Guangzhou a hub serving nearby Asian and Oceania locations.

"As it's necessary for passengers going from London to Oceania to transit somewhere, we must do our best to offer a good flight to Guangzhou, so they choose to transit in Guangzhou and not in other places, like Dubai for example," Hu said.

He added the timing of the airline's move coincides with Guangzhou being allowed by the Chinese government last month to receive tourists for 72-hour visa free visits, a special status, which had only been granted to Shanghai and Beijing previously.

Under the new regulation, tourists traveling on to other destinations can stay in Guangzhou for up to 72 hours, which makes the city even more attractive as a transit destination.

China Southern launched its maiden London-Guangzhou flight in June 2012, operating three flights a week at the time.

The move was timed to coincide with the London Olympics because a large number of Chinese tourists visited the British capital.

The flight frequency has since been increased to the current five times a week, operating daily, except on Mondays and Wednesdays. During peak periods the frequency will be increased to seven flights a week.

The new 787 aircraft can carry 228 passengers, compared with 218 passengers on the A330 aircraft. The flights take about 12 hours each way.

Hu said that one unique feature of the new aircraft is a window shade, which can be adjusted by passengers to suit their personal needs. Moisture levels inside the cabin can also be adjusted more easily than in other planes, which will make the flights more comfortable.

"In addition, as the aircraft is new, it uses a lot of materials made in a sustainable way, which is a concept we highly support," Hu said.

"The aircraft is easy to pilot and is very safe. It also has been equipped with good hardware, for example, and very good quality on its sound devices," he said.

The airline's other European destinations include Amsterdam in the Netherlands and Paris, France. The next international route that China Southern plans to operate using the 787 aircraft will be between Guangzhou and Auckland, New Zealand.

cecily.liu@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 09/12/2013 page16)