Twenty years on, the routes operated by China Southern Airlines Shenzhen Company now cover China’s major cities. The fleet has been increased from seven planes 20 years ago to the current figure of 30. The number of flights has increased five-fold to more than 160 a day and the turnover of passengers has been increased from 1 million people a year to 6 million.

    Sun Haiying, Chen Daiwei and Han Ximin

    ON Nov. 25, 1991, China Southern Airlines started its maiden flight from Shenzhen, ushering a new era in the city’s aviation history.

    Twenty years on, the routes operated by China Southern Airlines Shenzhen Company now cover China’s major cities. The fleet has been increased from seven planes 20 years ago to the current figure of 30. The number of flights has increased five-fold to more than 160 a day and the turnover of passengers has been increased from 1 million people a year to 6 million.

    The company’s annual report last year showed the occupancy rate of the airline reached 50.93 percent, ranking first among airlines operating in Shenzhen, and the number of passengers increased by 34.69 percent compared with the previous year.

    From strength to strength

    When the maiden flight took off, the five-story office building of China Southern Airlines was the tallest building in the Nantou area in Nanshan District. Back then, it was surrounded by dirt roads and deserted grassland. According to an employee of the company’s marketing department, tickets were in demand as there were limited flights. All of the tickets were handwritten,” the employee said.

    “We had to write hundreds of tickets a day and, when it was time to finish work, our wrists would be exhausted. But now, we have e-tickets, and people can buy tickets over the Internet or by phone,” the employee said.

    China Southern Airlines introduced the A320 model aircraft in 1998, replacing B757-200’s and B737-300’s. In 2008, the company put into use four Airbus 330 commercial planes in the Shenzhen market, serving routes to Beijing and Shanghai.

    In July 2008, China Southern Airlines won the five-star flight safety award issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China, the highest award in the field.

    By the end of 2010, China Southern Airlines had been responsible for safe flights of 7.72 million hours and gone 134 months without an accident, the best safety record among major airlines in China. China Southern Airlines is rapidly approaching the Diamond Prize of flight safety of 10 million hours.

    Leading the industry

    Li Yunxiang, general manager of China Southern Airlines Shenzhen Company, likes to remind his employees that the best branch of China Southern Airlines is in Shenzhen and the best flight service in Shenzhen is provided by China Southern Airlines.

    In 20 years, China Southern Airlines Shenzhen Company has set many records in the city’s aviation history. It was the first company to introduce e-tickets and online check-in. It was the first to introduce a nationwide booking service by using a hotline, 95539. It is the first company to introduce a special service for the elderly and children without a companion during the flight. It is the first to introduce an open counter service and in-flight food reservation from the ground. And it was also the first to meet Skytrax’s service standard.

    Passengers who fly with China Southern Airlines to Australia, New Zealand and Europe from Guangzhou can take free rides from Shenzhen and those to South East Asian countries can get part of the ground transport subsidized and enjoy a door-to-door pick-up and drop-off service from the company.