Han Ximin,

Sun Haiying,

Chen Daiwei

ximhan@126.com

LOCATED in the fast-developing Pearl River Delta region, Shenzhen has maintained high economic growth for decades and has created an incredible Shenzhen Speed.

In the past decades, China Southern Airlines (CSA) has grown with Shenzhen and helped compose a new chapter of reform, innovation and fast development at the forefront of China’s reform and opening up.

Historical past

CSA Shenzhen Company set many records for the city as well as China’s aviation history and led the development of the aviation market in Shenzhen. Through untiring efforts to “lay foundation for future development” by the leadership of China Southern Airlines, CSA Shenzhen Company has made significant progress in expanding its fleet of aircraft and flight network and improving its infrastructure. In 2013, the company’s Party committee set a strategic target to double its size in 3-5 years. The target played a vital role in guiding the development of the company. In the past years, the Shenzhen Company has pushed forward strategic transformation, the layout of an international network, a highly efficient safety protocol and an improved service brand. CSA Shenzhen Company has entered its golden age of development. Before the end of 2017, two A330 aircraft will be added to the Shenzhen market, bringing the total number of aircraft operated by Shenzhen Company to 49.

More international routes

The Party committee of CSA Shenzhen Company requires employees to foster the idea of passing from the international era since 2013 into the intercontinental era, to compete with well-known airlines from around the world on international commercial trunk routes and lead Shenzhen airport into fast lane of internationalization. In 2014, China Southern Airlines opened the route between Shenzhen and Mauritius, then the only direct flight from China to Africa. In 2015, flights to Osaka and Ibaraki were put into service, raising the curtain on international trunk routes. In 2016, three intercontinental routes opened to Sydney, Dubai, and Jakarta, marking growth in intercontinental routes at Shenzhen airport. In 2017, two international routes opened from Shenzhen to Melbourne and Moscow, further enhancing the intercontinental strategy of Shenzhen airport.

Safety — base for development

Safety is given top priority in the aviation industry. CSA Shenzhen Company has adopted a zero-tolerance policy to safety risks. To improve their abilities in safeguarding safety operation, the Party committee of CSA Shenzhen Company started with staff team building. It has developed a highly skilled pilot team with strong political consciousness and stable psychological qualities through enhanced career planning services. To ensure its planes are in the best condition, the company stresses craftsmanship in its training, has improved management systems and built professional teams prioritizing tenacious work ethic, mastery of skills and strict discipline for operation, security and logistics services.

Operation — base for fast growth

To ensure smooth operation, the company’s leadership, guided by the rule that Operation is the First Productive Force, enhanced its core competitiveness capability and improved operation capability. In recent years, the company has reinforced the role of information integration and decision-making by setting up an Airport Control Center, joint on-duty mechanism and an interdepartmental morning meeting to improve efficiency. It is the first company among China Southern subsidiaries to implement the integrated operation of a Maintenance Control Center and Airport Control Center. Decision-making efficiency has been greatly improved.

Service — support for fast growth

Since its establishment, service has been the goal pursued by CSA Shenzhen Company. It was the first company to open a nationwide ticket booking phone service, and the first company to introduce a companion service for elderly people and children, as well as an in-flight food reservation service. The company established a service quality committee to impose closed-loop management on each department, established an alert system to resolve service shortfalls in luggage handling, luggage retrieval efficiency, ticket refunds and flight changes. It also introduced features and innovative services, like captain broadcasting.

Future plan

In the past five years, under the leadership of the company’s Party committee, CSA Shenzhen Company has realized a leap forward in development. The number of aircraft will reach 49 before the end of the year. Passenger turnover is expected to exceed 10 million. The flight network is extending its coverage with more intercontinental flights. The next five years is the crucial period for China Southern Airlines to implement tasks put forward at the 19th CPC National Congress, realize the 13th Five-Year Program and build a world-class aviation industrial group.