China Southern Airlines Company Limited (China Southern Airlines) launched its inaugural passenger flight from Guangzhou to Port Vila, capital of Vanuatu, on April 29.
This marked the first trial operation of a direct air route between the Chinese mainland and Vanuatu, expanding the number of countries served by China’s civil aviation to 79.
To create a memorable in-flight experience, China Southern Airlines’ cabin crew decorated the aircraft interior with symbols of good fortune from Chinese culture — such as auspicious clouds, magpies, koi fish, and moth orchids — featuring also kapok flowers, which are native to the Lingnan region. The flight also featured two specially crafted beverages.
To ensure a smooth departure, China Southern Airlines set up four dedicated check-in counters at Terminal 2 of the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. The airline also enhanced passenger guidance at both the departure and transit points, ensuring seamless travel for the 110 passengers on the inaugural flight.
Located in the western South Pacific, Vanuatu lies about 1,900 kilometers east of Brisbane, Australia, and 800 kilometers west of Fiji. The country has twice topped the Happy Planet Index, published by the UK-based New Economics Foundation.
(Executive editor: Yuan Ting)
