China Southern to focus on international routes

China Southern Airlines<600029><1055> will focus its business on the international routes in the future, told by Liu Shaoyong, board chairman of the air carrier.

The freight transport volume of China Southern will be increased by at least three times in the following years, according to Liu. During 2007, China Southern has totally launched ten new international routes from Guangzhou with the support of the local government.

China Southern will be the sole user of the freight port of Guangzhou Baiyun Airport after the completion of a new freight port. It also transformed one of its A300-600 passenger airplanes to freight plane, which will commence operations this year.

In 2006, the carrier's domestic freight and post transport volume increased by 6.5%, while its overseas transport volume rose by 10.4%. The demand of international freight transport is the main reason for China Southern to launch more overseas routes.

In 2007, the nation's freight transport volume by air reached 4.02 million tons, up 15.0% over 2006. The annual growth rate of air freight transport in China is forecasted to be 7.7% before 2012, according to a recent report from Lufthansa.