(Yicai Global) June 30 -- During a recent trip to China, New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins was invited to a special event to mark the resumption of direct flights by China Southern Airlines between Guangzhou and Christchurch. The Chinese carrier is also increasing the number of flights between Guangzhou and Auckland.

China Southern is restarting direct flights between Guangzhou and Christchurch and will add another three direct flights between Guangzhou to Auckland in November, the Guangzhou-based carrier said on June 28.

“One of the key themes of my visit here to China is Reconnection. New Zealand and China have a deep history with meaningful relationships in a variety of areas, most notably in areas of trade, tourism and education,” Hipkins said at a press conference held by the New Zealand side the next day.

“Our second-largest group of international visitors came from China before Covid-19,” he added. “In the 12 months ended April 30, New Zealand welcomed 77,000 visitors from China. Forty percent were visiting friends and family and 30 percent came for a holiday.”

“We anticipate holiday travel to keep growing as air connectivity resumes to pre-Covid levels,” he said.

“Before the pandemic, there were 45 direct flights every week between the two countries at five airports in New Zealand,” said Auckland Airport Chief Executive Officer Carrie Hurihanganui.

More airlines are resuming direct flights to New Zealand out of the four first-tier cities Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. The number of flights is now back to 78 percent of pre-pandemic levels, and China has become the third-largest source of passengers for New Zealand again, she added.

Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Hainan Airlines and Air New Zealand all operate direct flights between China and New Zealand, according to flight tracker Flight Master.

Editor: Kim Taylor