China Southern Airlines plans to double its flights to New Zealand in the near future, to meet expectations of a dramatic rise in Chinese visitors.
The airline, the fifth largest airline in the world, on Friday began a daily service from Gaungzhou to Auckland, up from three days per week, adding an extra 90,000 seats per year.
The airline says it is already planning to double that to a twice-daily service on the Auckland route and adding flights to South America.
Tourism New Zealand chief executive Kevin Bowler says the daily service alone is estimated to be worth $100 million to New Zealand.
"The average Chinese visitor spends on average of over $3,000 while they're in New Zealand. So as you increase the number of visitors, you see a flow-on effect in jobs, expenditure and tax in New Zealand."
Mr Bowler says as part of the deal, Tourism New Zealand will work with Southern Airlines promoting New Zealand in China.
Daily flights are also being hailed as a big benefit for exporters, giving them easier access to Guangzhou, China's third largest city and a key transportation hub and trading port.
