China Southern Airlines, which is the only carrier to serve the route, will launch the extra flights on June 1. The new 12.35 departure, which arrives the next day at 07.10, complements the existing 22.35 night flight.
Guangzhou, about 75 miles north west of Hong Kong on the Pearl River, is a major port and centre of commerce and the venue for the vast annual Canton Trade Fair. Its airport is also a major hub for China Southern, from which it offers 120 destinations in China, Japan, Korea, South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
China Southern, which is a Skyteam member, will use a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, operating from Heathrow’s Terminal 4. The new flight’s inbound departure will leave China at 00.55, arriving at 06.35, which many travellers will prefer to the current daytime flight.
Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye said: “We are delighted to welcome the second service of China Southern Airlines to Heathrow and the benefits of increased connectivity to Guangzhou for our passengers and for British business. Direct connections to thriving markets like these are essential to keeping our country a global, outward looking, trading nation.”
A total of 1.15 million passengers flew from Heathrow to China in 2016, an increase of 7. 3%.
