China Southern will begin flights between New York and its home hub of Guangzhou next year using its new Boeing 777-300ER as the airline gears up for continued international growth.

“Currently we don’t have any presence on the (North American) east coast, so next year we plan to launch a new Guangzhou-New York service” said China Southern CEO Tan Wangeng during a press briefing in Guangzhou to mark the debut of the airline’s Airbus A380 service to Sydney and Boeing 787 flights to Auckland.

However, Tan said the New York route hinges on the delivery of the airline’s first Boeing 777-300ER, due in the middle of 2014.

“We are waiting for the appropriate aircraft type for this service which can fly the long range” Tan said. “Next July we will take delivery of a brand new Boeing 777-300ER which will make this route possible.”

Tan is also eying expansion into Europe, but sees the airline’s first priority as increasing flights on its current routes.

“For example, we can also consider double daily flights for Guangzhou-London, one in the morning and one in the evening, to also provide  better connections with our flights from Australia.”

Australian Business Traveller is visiting Guangzhou and travelling on China Southern's inaugural A380 service to Sydney as a guest of China Southern.

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